Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications

The Theology of Change - 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2018-07-29

Synopsis: John Weaver continues his series on the theology of change by distinguishing between preferences and convictions. He reviews the tests of pleasure and profit, then introduces two additional tests: pressure and persecution. Using biblical examples and historical martyrs, he argues that true convictions, rooted in Scripture, will not change under these pressures, while preferences will. The message emphasizes standing firm on God's Word regardless of external coercion or suffering.

[John Weaver] Malachi 3 and verse 6. This is going to be the second message in the series on the theology of change, or changing your mind doctrinally. Since some of you were not here last week, I'm going to take a few minutes and review, and then we'll pick up and go from there. But in Malachi 3 and verse 6, The Scripture says, for I am the Lord, I change not.

[John Weaver] Therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed. I pointed out how God only is immutable. He is changeless. We are creatures of change. We are fickle. And the fact that many times we will not only change at the drop of a hat, we'll drop the hat ourselves just so we can change. So obviously last week I began dealing with the difference between a preference and a conviction. So many people want to think that they are men and women of conviction and when in reality we are men and women of preference.

[John Weaver] Let me give you some distinctions. May I point out that a preference is something that we desire above anything else. It's a choice. It's an estimation of value. It is a like. I tell people that I really prefer a ribeye steak, but I will eat a sirloin. See, I prefer cherry ice cream, but I will eat vanilla. So it's a preference, and it's something that we like more than anything else, or we simply prefer it more than anything else.

[John Weaver] By the way, last week also I went and showed you how the word prefer, preferred, and preferring is used in the New Testament. According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary, he defines preference as the act of preferring one thing above another, estimation of one thing above another, choice of one thing rather than another, and then he says it is our reasoning that gives value to our choices. So if you've not heard the first message, I would encourage you to do so. But a conviction differs from a preference. A conviction is a deep-rooted belief or standard that has been imposed upon us by our authority. And let me just say this, for the Christian, for the child of God, our authority is the Word of God.

[John Weaver] The Scripture is our sole rule for faith and practice. Everything that we believe and everything that we do should be rooted and grounded in Scripture. Paul wrote Titus, in Titus 1 in verse 9, he says, holding fast the faithful word as he had been taught. that he may be able by a sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers. But notice he said, holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught.

[John Weaver] I was asked a question last week after the morning service, and the question was this. Well, what about those who are not Christians? What about the cults or what about the other false religions? And the answer to the question was, the question was dealing with their convictions. I said, their convictions are likewise based upon their authority, whatever that authority is. It may be a wrong authority and their convictions may be wrong, but it is still based upon their authority. Every conviction is based upon an authority. A preference is not. A preference may have a biblical influence, but it doesn't have to have. But a conviction always has a biblical influence, or at least an influence for some authority. There's also a difference between a conviction and a preference in the sense that a preference may be held with a strong and great strength, but it will change under the right circumstances.

[John Weaver] So, Allison, I have gone in restaurants and I have ordered something and they come back and they say, we're out of that. Well, that's what I really want. Well, we're out of it. Well, OK, I'll take something else rather than have to get up and go somewhere else. You know, I'm just going to be saying a preference will be easily changed under the right circumstances, but a conviction is not going to be changed.

[John Weaver] Now, last week in the first message, I began pointing out the tests that are given to us in the scripture that will pinpoint whether or not we have a preference or a conviction. The very first test or the very first evidence as to whether or not we have a preference or conviction is that of pleasure. And the truth of the matter is most people are desire-oriented, they're pleasure-oriented. Every unsaved person prefers his pleasure. In fact, the Bible tells us that men by nature are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. And if you're going to sacrifice your honor, if you're going to sacrifice your character, if you're going to sacrifice your position for pleasure, then you don't have a conviction.

[John Weaver] It's like the Apostle Paul said of Demas, Demath hath forsaken me, having loved this present world. So he preferred pleasure rather than the truth of God. Just the opposite, the Bible says that Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. So obviously pleasure is one of the greatest tests, and I pointed out last week how many, many individuals have been slain at the altar of pleasure because they sacrifice everything for pleasure. Then the second test I pointed out last week was that of profit. So if you're willing to allow your positions to be compromised for money or for profit, then you don't really have convictions. You have a preference. And I really showed you from the scripture how God condemned Balaam and talking about how Balaam ran greedily after reward and how Balaam was wrong in so many areas and so many respects. When you stop and think about money or riches, most everybody's willing to sacrifice their own soul for money.

[John Weaver] In fact, our Lord said that Himself. He said, what will a man exchange for his own soul? If he gained the whole world and loses his own soul, well, he's still the loser. So obviously, the Bible tells us in the book of Proverbs 11, in verse 4, riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivered from death. So you can be the richest man in the world, and you're still going to die, and it's not going to profit you one thing. It's just going to be left. The Bible says in Proverbs 11, in verse 28, He that trusted in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. And then when God speaks about how Babylon has fallen, in Revelation 18, verse 7, He said, For in one hour so great riches have come to nothing. One of my favorite stories is about the really wealthy man who died.

[John Weaver] And as they were carrying the casket to the grave, one of the men carrying the casket, Paul Bearer, looked at the other one and said, how much did he leave? And the other one answered, he left it all. And that's a fact. He left it all.

[John Weaver] Now, since I'm pointing out how that Profit is a real test. Let me point out just the opposite. Poverty is also a test. It's not just profit and riches as well. It has been said that when a Christian gets rich, God either gains a fortune or loses a man. But the same could also be said concerning poverty. When a Christian is reduced to poverty, he will either become more submissive, more obedient, and more faithful, and more dependent upon God, or he will become the enemy of God in seeking to extricate himself from his poverty. Let me show you.

[John Weaver] Hold Malachi, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Proverbs chapter 30. Proverbs chapter 30, and look if you would please at verses 8 and 9. Very interesting. Proverbs chapter 30 at verses 8 and 9. Notice what the wise man says. Proverbs 30 verse 8. Remove far from me vanity and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food convenient for me.

[John Weaver] Now watch, lest I be full and deny thee and say, who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steel, and take the name of my God in vain. Now, I want you to note, if you would please, verse 9, lest I be full and deny thee. You know, our Lord taught us to pray, give us this day our daily bread. Most of us don't pray that, because we have our freezers full, we have the pantries full, etc. And so, he's saying here is one problem with riches, Or plenty in the fact that we just kind of ignore God and overlook him and think we don't need him.

[John Weaver] But then he talks about poverty as well. And he said, lest I be poor and stale. And I want you to watch this and take the name of my God in vain.

[John Weaver] Now, when we hear preachers preach about taking God's name in vain, usually they're talking about cursing. They're talking about profanity. It's interesting here that you can take God's name in vain and never curse and never use a slang word because theft is here considered taking God's name in vain. And it's not just me sticking a gun to Gary's head and saying, Gary, give me all your money. If I defraud him, if I deceive him, if I do anything that's underhanded, it's still a form of theft. And it is called taking the name of God in vain.

[John Weaver] how one acts when he is distressed and despondent and desperate equally reveals whether he has a conviction or a preference. So it's not just profit and pleasure that test us. I'm going to give you two more today because next Sunday, Lord willing, I'm going to show you Why change is absolutely necessary and the next two messages will deal on how we are to change biblically. But the third test today is that of pressure. Pressure may take many forms. It may take the form of coercion.

[John Weaver] peer approval or disapproval, loss of opportunities, loss of jobs, loss of positions, personal attacks, ridicule, mockery, accusatory denunciation, and slander. And the truth of the matter is this, everybody wants to be liked. Everybody wants to be loved and respected. And truthfully, we wish to avoid confrontations. No one wants to engage in embarrassing displays of animosity. Nobody wants to be cussed out in front of everybody else. If we could get by without ever having anything like that happen to us, we would be happy.

[John Weaver] But unhappily, that is not the case. Once pressure is put upon us, we're either going to give in or cave into the thoughts and the desires and plans of others, or we're going to hold fast. You've probably heard me say this before, but I'm going to say it again. Circumstances never make or break a man, they just reveal him. Circumstances never make or break a man, they just reveal him. So here is a man in war.

[John Weaver] And the enemy comes rushing in. And he throws down his weapon and turns and runs. And someone says, boy, that battle made him a coward. No, he was already a coward in his heart. The battle just revealed him. Or, he picks up his weapon and he runs straight into the enemy and he saves the day and saves his own company. Someone says, well, that battle made him a hero. No, he was already a hero. He was already brave in his heart. The battle just revealed him.

[John Weaver] So, pressure is going to reveal whether or not we have real convictions or preferences. You're going to understand, or I hope you're going to understand, the fact that every one of us as Christians are going to be maligned, we're going to be spoken concerning evil, and pressure is going to be put upon us to compromise and to throw away our standards. And sometimes it's going to be done by organizations. For instance, the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is not southern, although it's located in Montgomery, Alabama. It's certainly not in poverty, since it controls half a billion dollars. And it's not a law center based upon God's law or constitutional law. It may be a legal center.

[John Weaver] About the only thing accurate in that is the word center, you know, and it might be More accurately spelled, if you spelled it S-I-N-N-E-R. But anyhow, anyone who happens to disagree with them, is labeled a racist, a bigot, a homophobe, or whatever. Even Ron Paul has been called by them a white supremacist. Isn't that crazy? One black professor who was a real conservative had been labeled racist by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

[John Weaver] It's insane, but it seems like on every hand you have organizations or you have governmental entities putting the pressure to be politically correct. But unhappily, it's not just organization. Sometimes it is individual as well. Everybody's heard the old adage, well, there's strength in diversity. Well, the interesting thing is when you hear that and you begin to disagree with some people, Then the next thing you know, there's no strength in adversity.

[John Weaver] The only strength there is, is when you kowtow to them and bow down to them and accept their terms and their positions and their theology and their understanding, because they're not going to allow you to live by the enlightenment and the illumination and the understanding that God has given you. No, they demand that you bow to what they think, and what they believe. So they seek to dominate, to dictate, and control, and they're going to apply all the pressure that's absolutely necessary to make sure that you bow to their understanding.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just give you some scriptures, and I want you to think with me. David said in Psalm 41 in verse 5, My enemies speak evil of me. When shall he die? And his name perish. My enemies speak evil of me. So they're not only cursing David and spreading lies and slander. When shall he die? We want him dead. We want him out of the way.

[John Weaver] And you know, the interesting thing is sometimes you find out that people are saying things about you that are not even true. And why would they say some of those things to begin with? I never will forget years ago, years ago, when Randy Weaver's wife and son were killed. There was a pastor out in Colorado at that time. His name was Pete Peters. And after that happened, he invited a lot of preachers. to come out to his place and just try to figure out what are we going to do next time if this happens. Now, Pete Peters was a controversial individual, theologically, politically, and I was invited to go along with a lot of other preachers, but I could not go because I did not have an opening.

[John Weaver] I was supposed to be preaching somewhere else, so I didn't go. But lo and behold, The Southern Poverty Law Center said that John Weaver was there and that I was a leader in that movement and that I preached there as well. Now how in the world they got that information I don't know because I wasn't there and I didn't preach and I was not a leader in that movement. But another pastor friend of mine who went and did preach, they never even mentioned him.

[John Weaver] So I'm just simply saying, this is what David is talking about. My enemies speak evil of me. When shall he die? You remember what our Lord said in Matthew 5 and verse 11? He said, Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Wow. Men are going to revile you. They're going to persecute you. They're going to say all manner of evil against you for my sake. And here's the passage. And I'm going to be preaching on this passage, I hope, in three or four weeks. But James 4 and verse 11. Here's what James said, Speak not evil one of another brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother and judges his brother, Speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law. But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. So God is actually forbidding us to speak evil one of another. And I'm going to explain that when I get to it.

[John Weaver] And then in 1 Peter 3 and verse 10, For he that will love life, and have good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Isn't that interesting? And then in 1 Peter 3, verse 16, he said, And having a good conscience, that whereas they speak evil of you as evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversations in Christ.

[John Weaver] So each of these passages demonstrate that there's going to be all kinds of pressure placed upon the believers. We're going to be reviled. We're going to be mocked. We're going to be ridiculed. We're going to be hated. And we need to make sure that the derogatory remarks that are spoken against us are spoken falsely. Or at least if they're spoken against us, they're spoken against us for the truth's sake.

[John Weaver] Years ago, I was preaching in North Carolina and I was with the pastor and we were out somewhere And he ran into this one man that he knew. And he said, I'd like to invite you to come to our church for the meeting we're holding. The man said, well, who's preaching? And he looked at me and said, John Weaver, right here. He said, I would never go hear John Weaver. And I looked at him and I said, why? He said, because You ran off from your wife and married another woman. Come to find out there was a Johnny Weaver that was a wrestler who did that and then turned and supposedly got converted. I said, sir, you got the wrong John Weaver, I can assure you, because I got the same one that I started out with.

[John Weaver] He said, oh, OK, I'm sorry. But see, there's somebody else with another name. But our Lord said, make sure that it's going to be done. You know, falsely. In Luke 21, verse 17, he said, You shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. And then in John 15, verse 18, he said, You know, if the world hate you, it hated me before it hated you.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm telling you all this just to point out the truth. We cannot capitulate. We cannot throw our convictions away due to pressure. We cannot give up the truth that we understand to be true just simply because we desire someone else's approval or peace or the absence of confrontation. I am sure that every one of us have had pressure placed upon us in one way or the other. But I suppose that none of us have ever had the pressure that Martin Luther had upon him when he stood before, and I will say it the way we always said it when I was younger, when he stood before the Diet of Worms. What a horrible diet. Well, actually it was the Diet of Worms. The Diet of Worms, Worms Germany, the Diet was the Parliament. He was standing before the Parliament of Worms, Germany, and he was facing Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, the Pope, the Cardinals, and all of the high church officials. And they were all demanding that he recant, that he take back everything that he had written concerning the Pope and the church and take back everything that he said truthfully about Christ and the gospel.

[John Weaver] And so here is what Martin Luther said. He looked at Charles V, and by the way, you must remember, they had the power to execute Martin Luther. But he looked at Charles V and the Pope and he said this, Unless I am convinced by scriptures and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen. Now that's a conviction. A conviction is not going to change due to pressure. And I can assure you the pressure was placed upon Martin Luther. And he stood because he had a conviction and not a preference. So we cannot change our theology, we cannot change our minds, we cannot change our positions based upon pleasure or profit or pressure. There's a fourth reason that we cannot change.

[John Weaver] And I suppose it is the greatest test of all. And that is the test of persecution. And I want to suggest that this may be the most severe test of one's faith and one's convictions. But I want you to understand that persecution does not necessarily have to be severe in order to be persecution. You can have a mild persecution. Let me quote a verse I quoted earlier, Matthew 5, verse 11.

[John Weaver] Our Lord said, blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and sell a manner of evil against you falsely for my name's sake. So reviling is a mild form of persecution. Slander is a mild form of persecution. Saying things that should not be said, gossiping about someone is a mild form of persecution. Our Lord told His disciples, in fact, I want you to look at it. Look at this.

[John Weaver] Turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 10. Matthew chapter 10. And look, if you would please, at verse 23. Here's a little, I would say, a severer form of persecution. Matthew 10, verse 23. He said, But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another. For verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come." Now wait a minute. When they persecute you in this city, flee you to another.

[John Weaver] So now it's not just reviling. Now it's not just mockery.

[John Weaver] Now they're out to get you. They may be confiscating your property, but at least you still have some leeway. You have the opportunity to remove yourself.

[John Weaver] Now let me just put this the way it should be. Truthfully, as Christians, we should expect persecution. And I'm afraid we haven't seen anything the way we're going to see it. But our Lord said it like this in John 15 and verse 20. He said, Remember the word that I have spoken unto you. The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept My saying, They will keep your saying also. But notice that if they persecuted me, they will persecute you as well. Our persecution is the result of the world's hatred of Jesus Christ. If they persecuted me, they hated Him, they're going to persecute you. So anytime you find the church of Jesus Christ being attacked, anytime that you find Christians being attacked, Persecuted? It's because they hate the Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, our persecution may range from mild to severe to extreme. It could be as mild as ostracization. Well, I don't like Steve, so I'm going to just ostracize him from this group, and we'll just ignore him, and we'll have our group. That's, you know, ostracizing people. Another is shunning people. He may come, but we just won't speak to him. We won't have anything to do with him. We'll ignore him. Shunning. That's a form of persecution. Confiscation of property. Excommunication. Prison.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles, Luke chapter 21. Luke 21. And then I want you to go to Hebrews 11. Matthew, Mark, Luke. Look in Luke 21 and verse 12, just showing you how persecution can be ratcheted up by the powers that be. In Luke 21 and verse 12, our Lord said, But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. So there are some that will be thrown in prison just for the faith of Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] How about Pastor Andrew Brunson? Have you heard of Andrew Brunson? If you haven't, you need to be praying for him. He has been arrested in Turkey by the president, what's his name, Erdogan. And he's already been in Turkey for years preaching. And really what has happened, he's now a pawn in a game because Erdogan, wants a Muslim cleric in this country because he views him as an enemy, and he's trying to swap. And so now he's had Pastor Andrew Brunson in prison for about two years, just trying to get our government to swap out so he can kill a man. And Brunson hadn't done a thing.

[John Weaver] Charging him with all kinds of spying and treason, which is absolutely insane. But I'm just simply saying, here's what some of them do. And that's what our Lord warned about. But if you'll look in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 11, you'll see the classic passage on persecution. Hebrews 11. And let's begin reading there with verse 32. Hebrews 11, verse 32. Watch if you would. Hebrews 11 and verse 32.

[John Weaver] And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of the lions, Quench the violence of fire. Escape the edge of the sword. Out of weakness were made strong. Waxed valiant in fight.

[John Weaver] Turned to flight the armies of the aliens." Now see, these were some of the things done through faith, but now watch. Women received their dead race to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings. came over bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned. They were thrown asunder, were tempted, were slain with a sword.

[John Weaver] They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Now go back. He said women received their dead raised to life again and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance. Verse 36, and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, of bonds and imprisonment. Note they were stoned. They were stoned asunder.

[John Weaver] This has a reference probably to Isaiah. Tradition says that the king was after him and he hid himself in a hollow tree. And they cut the tree down with him in it, and then they sawed the tree in two with him inside the tree. But at least it happened to some, whether it was Isaiah or not. But they were stoned, they were stoned asunder, were tempted, were slain with a sword.

[John Weaver] And note, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, had no proper clothing, destitute, afflicted, tormented. They wandered in deserts and in mountains and dens and caves of the earth. This is persecution.

[John Weaver] Now, when you think about dying for your conviction, When you think about the most extreme form of persecution, I hope if you've never read it, that you will take the time to read Fox's book of murders. Now, naturally, John Fox cannot list all the martyrs that have ever occurred or ever put to death. Because, number one, he's human. He would not possibly know them all anyhow. And of course this would mainly deal with England anyhow, or in Europe basically.

[John Weaver] There have been multitudes that have died for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But at least he gives you a large number of individuals who died in Scotland, in England, Ireland, other parts of Europe. Let me just tell you about several. Young Patrick Hamilton was Scotland's first martyr. He was only 24 years of age. Parliament in July 1525 had banned the importation of Luther's works into Scotland. In 1528, the Archbishop of St. Andrews summoned Hamilton for a debate. We're going to debate. Whether the Roman Catholic Church is here or whatever, and whether this Reformation doctrine, we're going to have a debate. It was a trap. And when young Hamilton showed up, he was accused of heresy and a hasty trial took place. A trial in those days normally would take several weeks. His took 12 hours.

[John Weaver] He was sentenced to be burned at the stake, and he was. It took six long, excruciating hours for young Hamilton to die. His death intensified the opposition to Roman Catholicism and increased interest in the Reformation. His last words As he was being burned to death were these, How long, O Lord, shall darkness cover this realm? How long will you suffer the tyranny of men? Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

[John Weaver] Twenty-four years of age. George Wishart was another preacher in Scotland. Wizhardt traveled all through the country proclaiming Reformation doctrines with skill and conviction. It was Cardinal David Baton, who was the Archbishop of St. Andrews, who had five Protestants executed in 1544, and he twice, twice had tried to have George Wizhardt murdered. That's a churchman now. Twice he tried to have George Wishart murdered. Well, the men in Scotland that believed the truth, in order to try to preserve Wishart's life, they had him move every day to a different location. Since there were so many threats upon his life, there was a bodyguard assigned to him. One of the men that helped guard George Wishart was John Knox, the trumpeter of Scotland. He had a large double-headed broad sword and was part of the bodyguard that went everywhere Wizhardt went in order to protect him. And when you came to one of Wizhardt's sermons, you didn't get a mass. You didn't get a mass in Latin.

[John Weaver] What you had was congregational singing and at least an hour-long preaching in the English language. I mean, he just preached the Word of God. But in 1536, he believed that his death was imminent. He believed that his arrest was going to be unavoidable. And so, Wishart dismissed his bodyguard. And he said this, one is sufficient for a sacrifice. I'm willing to die. Wishart was arrested. He was condemned as a heretic.

[John Weaver] He was strangled, burned at the stake by order of Cardinal Baton. As the fire was lit, Wishart said this, this flame has scorched my body, yet it hath not daunted my spirit. And then he's talking about Cardinal Baton. He said, but he who from yonder high place beholdeth us with such pride shall within a few days lie the same as ignominiously as now he is seen proudly to rest himself.

[John Weaver] So let me translate that. Cardinal Bateman, you're fixing to die yourself, and it's not going to be for your honor. You're going to die. Obviously, persecutions are going on in Scotland, persecutions are going on in England, persecutions are going on in France, everywhere. But in England, Mary, pretty well known as Bloody Mary, was persecuting anyone and everyone that did not adhere to Roman Catholicism. Mary I, Queen of England and Ireland from 1553 to 1558, restored Roman Catholicism to England and the authority of the Pope, she was known as Bloody Mary because she had at a minimum 300 Protestants burned at the stake for heresy against the Roman Catholic faith.

[John Weaver] One of her martyrs was Thomas Cranmer. Thomas Cranmer was an older man. a man of peace, a gentle soul, a warm individual who shunned controversy. He did not like controversy. He had many days of glory, of power, and prominence. Thomas Cranmer was the primate of all England. Let me spell that out for you. He was the Archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas Cranmer was the protector of kings, the trusted friend of queens, he was a loving husband and father, a trusted churchman, and the author of the Book of Common Prayer. Cranmer was arrested in 1556 and thrown into a damp, dark prison.

[John Weaver] He was cut off from his friends, he was cut off from his family, he was wracked by grief, He was bombarded by the Roman Catholic bishops and their rhetoric on a daily basis. And he was growing weary and tired. There were only two options that were available to Thomas Cranmer. First, he could assert the truth that he had long preached, that Jesus Christ alone was the head of the church. that the Mass was a Roman Catholic innovation, that purgatory was not found in the Word of God, and that man must be born again. Or second, he could give in to the pressure and retain his position as Archbishop of Canterbury just by signing a piece of paper. The interesting thing is just a few weeks earlier, two of his friends, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, had been burned at the stake. I had been there and stood on the very spot where these men were burned at the stake.

[John Weaver] It's now at the edge of a street if they have moved the street. But Cranmer could look out his prison window and see where Latterman Ridley had been burned at the stake. And now his mind began to play tricks with him. Because he's asking himself, what good did it do for those men to be burned at the stake? Their voices were now silent. They could no longer serve the Lord Jesus. They had no ministry. They had no influence. They were gone.

[John Weaver] And he understood that if he persisted in his belief, then that is going to be his lot as well. And to avoid being burned at the stake and to retain his position, all he had to do was to sign that piece of paper and then publicly recant. Kramer signed the recantation. He sincerely believed in Jesus Christ. He sincerely believed the Word of God. He sincerely believed everything that he had preached. After he signed the paper, there was a relief just for a little while.

[John Weaver] And then Matthew 10, verse 33, came roaring into his mind, where our Lord said, But whosoever shall deny me before man, him also will I deny before my Father who is in heaven. Cranmer had been a peacemaker. He was a gentleman. He was kind-hearted. He did not think that he could take a burning at the stake. He had much rather have died in his own bed in a respectable state. Once he signed that, and Matthew 10.33 began to haunt his mind, he knew he had betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] He spent hours alone, weeping, crying, begging for forgiveness. He knew that Peter had denied his Lord three times, and yet the Lord had forgiven him and restored him. And his mind was if he could just take that quill pen and make it suck up that ink, or those words would melt. But they would not and could not. He had signed. And now the bishops had allotted him a day at the big cathedral where he was to publicly recant and deny everything that he had preached. When he got to the cathedral, it was packed.

[John Weaver] Many of his followers were there. They were waiting to see if their teacher really denied the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, the bishops were there because they were there to gloat over the fact that they had pressured this man and were persecuting him to the extent that he was going to publicly deny the truth. When it came time for Cranmer to speak, I want you to listen to what he said.

[John Weaver] Kramer said, I come to the great thing that troubles my conscience more than any other thing that I've ever said or did in my life. And that is the setting abroad of writings contrary to the truth, which here now I renounce and refuse. Wow. So the bishops are sitting there and they're thinking. We've got him. The people are sitting there and they're thinking, oh my, he's going to deny the Lord Jesus Christ. So there was tense, a tense silence on the part of the bishops, on the part of the people.

[John Weaver] Every eye was fixed upon him. And Cranmer continued, he said this, I've written many things untrue. And forasmuch as my hand offended in writing contrary to my heart, therefore my hand shall be first punished. For I come to the fire, it shall be first burned." He then spread his shoulders and continued, I refuse him as Christ's enemy and an Antichrist in all his false doctrine, and as for the sacrament..."

[John Weaver] And by this time, the bishops began screaming and railing upon him. Like Stephen in Acts 6, they gnashed upon him with their teeth. They took the old man and tied him to a stake and set him on fire. Here is the Archbishop of Canterbury. His wife and children are safely in Germany at this particular point. They did not even find out until weeks later that he was dead. When Cranmer was tied to the stake, the fire was lit. His followers were there. And true to his word, as the fire was kindled and began to leap around him. He purposely took his right hand and held that right hand in the flames and watched the flames dissolve the flesh and the bone until there was nothing left but a stub. And then the old man died saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. That's a conviction.

[John Weaver] You may waver because you're human. You may waver because you're weak. But if it's a real conviction, you'll die for it. Little Thomas Bilney, another martyr, was visited by his friends in his cell before he was to be burned at the stake the next day. And his friends found him in a happy mood, had just eaten a big supper. And they asked him, how can you be so happy knowing that you're going to be burned to death tomorrow? With that, young Thomas Bilney said, I no more fear the flame, than I fear anything. And he took his finger and held it over the flame of the candle until the candle burned the flesh off his finger and nothing but the bone was exposed. He said, as my Lord has protected my finger from pain tonight, he'll protect my body from pain tomorrow. And he did so. There is a theology of change which I'm going to show you. And there is a way to change.

[John Weaver] But we cannot change because of pleasure or profit, and I would include poverty, nor can we change because of pressure and persecution. We must prepare our heads. We must prepare our hearts. And as the Apostle Paul said, to stand, and having done all, to stand. And we have to remember Matthew 10 and verse 33, where our Lord said, But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven. We cannot, under any circumstance, deny the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, in Thy name we bow to Thee this day.

[John Weaver] We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You for the testimony of these men that demonstrate, Lord, what real, genuine conviction is. And help us, Lord, to be men and women of conviction. Help us to see the authority of Your Word and stand on Your truth and for Your truth. Give us grace, Lord, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

[John Weaver] In Thy name we pray, Amen.

The Theology of Change - 2

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	81318828452
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications
Genre	Sermon
Date	2018-07-29
Dictation Name
Book	Book 111: The Theology of Change — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	70

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the immutability of God from Malachi 3:6 and the distinction between preferences and convictions, noting that preferences are desires that change under circumstances, while convictions are deep-rooted beliefs based on authority, specifically Scripture.

Malachi 3 and verse 6. This is going to be the second message in the series on the theology of change, or changing your mind doctrinally. Since some of you were not here last week, I'm going to take a few minutes and review, and then we'll pick up and go from there. But in Malachi 3 and verse 6, the Scripture says,

Scripture Reading — Malachi 3:6

"For I am the Lord, I change not." "Therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed."

I pointed out how God only is immutable. He is changeless. We are creatures of change. We are fickle. And the fact that many times we will not only change at the drop of a hat, we'll drop the hat ourselves just so we can change. So obviously last week I began dealing with the difference between a preference and a conviction. So many people want to think that they are men and women of conviction, when in reality we are men and women of preference.

Let me give you some distinctions. May I point out that a preference is something that we desire above anything else. It's a choice. It's an estimation of value. It is a like. I tell people that I really prefer a ribeye steak, but I will eat a sirloin. See, I prefer cherry ice cream, but I will eat vanilla. So it's a preference, and it's something that we like more than anything else, or we simply prefer it more than anything else.

The Test of Pleasure

Pleasure is a test of conviction; those who sacrifice honor, character, or position for pleasure demonstrate preferences, not convictions. Examples include Demas and Moses.

It's like the Apostle Paul said of Demas, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." So he preferred pleasure rather than the truth of God. Just the opposite, the Bible says that Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. So obviously pleasure is one of the greatest tests, and I pointed out last week how many, many individuals have been slain at the altar of pleasure because they sacrifice everything for pleasure. Then the second test I pointed out last week was that of profit. So if you're willing to allow your positions to be compromised for money or for profit, then you don't really have convictions. You have a preference. And I really showed you from the Scripture how God condemned Balaam and talking about how Balaam ran greedily after reward and how Balaam was wrong in so many areas and so many respects. When you stop and think about money or riches, most everybody's willing to sacrifice their own soul for money.

The Test of Profit

Profit tests convictions; compromising for money reveals preferences. Balaam is cited as an example. Poverty is also a test, as it can lead to theft or denial of God.

In fact, our Lord said that Himself. He said, "What will a man exchange for his own soul? If he gained the whole world and loses his own soul, well, he's still the loser." So obviously, the Bible tells us in the book of Proverbs 11, in verse 4,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 11:4

"Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivereth from death."

So you can be the richest man in the world, and you're still going to die, and it's not going to profit you one thing. It's just going to be left. The Bible says in Proverbs 11, in verse 28, "He that trusteth in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall flourish as a branch." And then when God speaks about how Babylon has fallen, in Revelation 18, verse 7, He said, "For in one hour so great riches have come to nothing." One of my favorite stories is about the really wealthy man who died.

And as they were carrying the casket to the grave, one of the men carrying the casket, pallbearer, looked at the other one and said, "How much did he leave?" And the other one answered, "He left it all." And that's a fact. He left it all. Now, since I'm pointing out how that profit is a real test, let me point out just the opposite. Poverty is also a test. It's not just profit and riches as well. It has been said that when a Christian gets rich, God either gains a fortune or loses a man. But the same could also be said concerning poverty. When a Christian is reduced to poverty, he will either become more submissive, more obedient, and more faithful, and more dependent upon God, or he will become the enemy of God in seeking to extricate himself from his poverty. Let me show you.

Hold Malachi, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Proverbs chapter 30. Proverbs chapter 30, and look if you would please at verses 8 and 9. Very interesting. Proverbs chapter 30 at verses 8 and 9. Notice what the wise man says. Proverbs 30 verse 8:

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 30:8-9

"Remove far from me vanity and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food convenient for me."

Now watch,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 30:8-9

"Lest I be full and deny thee and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain."

Now, I want you to note, if you would please, verse 9,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 30:8-9

"Lest I be full and deny thee."

You know, our Lord taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." Most of us don't pray that, because we have our freezers full, we have the pantries full, etc. And so, he's saying here is one problem with riches, or plenty, in the fact that we just kind of ignore God and overlook Him and think we don't need Him. But then he talks about poverty as well. And he said,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 30:8-9

"Lest I be poor and steal."

And I want you to watch this:

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 30:8-9

"and take the name of my God in vain."

Now, when we hear preachers preach about taking God's name in vain, usually they're talking about cursing. They're talking about profanity. It's interesting here that you can take God's name in vain and never curse and never use a slang word because theft is here considered taking God's name in vain. And it's not just me sticking a gun to Gary's head and saying, "Gary, give me all your money." If I defraud him, if I deceive him, if I do anything that's underhanded, it's still a form of theft. And it is called taking the name of God in vain. How one acts when he is distressed and despondent and desperate equally reveals whether he has a conviction or a preference. So it's not just profit and pleasure that test us. I'm going to give you two more today because next Sunday, Lord willing, I'm going to show you why change is absolutely necessary and the next two messages will deal on how we are to change biblically. But the third test today is that of pressure. Pressure may take many forms. It may take the form of coercion.

The Test of Pressure

Pressure, including coercion, peer disapproval, and slander, reveals whether one holds convictions or preferences. Believers will face reviling and false accusations, but must not capitulate.

Peer approval or disapproval, loss of opportunities, loss of jobs, loss of positions, personal attacks, ridicule, mockery, accusatory denunciation, and slander. And the truth of the matter is this, everybody wants to be liked. Everybody wants to be loved and respected. And truthfully, we wish to avoid confrontations. No one wants to engage in embarrassing displays of animosity. Nobody wants to be cussed out in front of everybody else. If we could get by without ever having anything like that happen to us, we would be happy.

But unhappily, that is not the case. Once pressure is put upon us, we're either going to give in or cave into the thoughts and the desires and plans of others, or we're going to hold fast. You've probably heard me say this before, but I'm going to say it again. Circumstances never make or break a man, they just reveal him. Circumstances never make or break a man, they just reveal him. So here is a man in war. And the enemy comes rushing in. And he throws down his weapon and turns and runs. And someone says, "Boy, that battle made him a coward." No, he was already a coward in his heart. The battle just revealed him. Or, he picks up his weapon and he runs straight into the enemy and he saves the day and saves his own company. Someone says, "Well, that battle made him a hero." No, he was already a hero. He was already brave in his heart. The battle just revealed him.

So, pressure is going to reveal whether or not we have real convictions or preferences. You're going to understand, or I hope you're going to understand, the fact that every one of us as Christians are going to be maligned, we're going to be spoken concerning evil, and pressure is going to be put upon us to compromise and to throw away our standards. And sometimes it's going to be done by organizations. For instance, the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is not southern, although it's located in Montgomery, Alabama. It's certainly not in poverty, since it controls half a billion dollars. And it's not a law center based upon God's law or constitutional law. It may be a legal center.

About the only thing accurate in that is the word "center," you know, and it might be more accurately spelled if you spelled it S-I-N-N-E-R. But anyhow, anyone who happens to disagree with them is labeled a racist, a bigot, a homophobe, or whatever. Even Ron Paul has been called by them a white supremacist. Isn't that crazy? One black professor who was a real conservative had been labeled racist by the Southern Poverty Law Center. It's insane, but it seems like on every hand you have organizations or you have governmental entities putting the pressure to be politically correct. But unhappily, it's not just organization. Sometimes it is individual as well. Everybody's heard the old adage, "Well, there's strength in diversity." Well, the interesting thing is when you hear that and you begin to disagree with some people, then the next thing you know, there's no strength in adversity.

The only strength there is, is when you kowtow to them and bow down to them and accept their terms and their positions and their theology and their understanding, because they're not going to allow you to live by the enlightenment and the illumination and the understanding that God has given you. No, they demand that you bow to what they think, and what they believe. So they seek to dominate, to dictate, and control, and they're going to apply all the pressure that's absolutely necessary to make sure that you bow to their understanding. Now, let me just give you some scriptures, and I want you to think with me. David said in Psalm 41 in verse 5, "My enemies speak evil of me. When shall he die? And his name perish." My enemies speak evil of me. So they're not only cursing David and spreading lies and slander. "When shall he die?" We want him dead. We want him out of the way.

And you know, the interesting thing is sometimes you find out that people are saying things about you that are not even true. And why would they say some of those things to begin with? I never will forget years ago, years ago, when Randy Weaver's wife and son were killed. There was a pastor out in Colorado at that time. His name was Pete Peters. And after that happened, he invited a lot of preachers to come out to his place and just try to figure out what are we going to do next time if this happens. Now, Pete Peters was a controversial individual, theologically, politically, and I was invited to go along with a lot of other preachers, but I could not go because I did not have an opening.

I was supposed to be preaching somewhere else, so I didn't go. But lo and behold, the Southern Poverty Law Center said that John Weaver was there and that I was a leader in that movement and that I preached there as well. Now how in the world they got that information I don't know because I wasn't there and I didn't preach and I was not a leader in that movement. But another pastor friend of mine who went and did preach, they never even mentioned him.

So I'm just simply saying, this is what David is talking about. "My enemies speak evil of me. When shall he die?" You remember what our Lord said in Matthew 5 and verse 11? He said, "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake." Wow. Men are going to revile you. They're going to persecute you. They're going to say all manner of evil against you for my sake. And here's the passage. And I'm going to be preaching on this passage, I hope, in three or four weeks. But James 4 and verse 11. Here's what James said, "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law. But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge." So God is actually forbidding us to speak evil one of another. And I'm going to explain that when I get to it.

And then in 1 Peter 3 and verse 10, "For he that will love life, and have good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile." Isn't that interesting? And then in 1 Peter 3, verse 16, he said, "And having a good conscience, that whereas they speak evil of you as evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." So each of these passages demonstrate that there's going to be all kinds of pressure placed upon the believers. We're going to be reviled. We're going to be mocked. We're going to be ridiculed. We're going to be hated. And we need to make sure that the derogatory remarks that are spoken against us are spoken falsely. Or at least if they're spoken against us, they're spoken against us for the truth's sake.

Years ago, I was preaching in North Carolina and I was with the pastor and we were out somewhere and he ran into this one man that he knew. And he said, "I'd like to invite you to come to our church for the meeting we're holding." The man said, "Well, who's preaching?" And he looked at me and said, "John Weaver, right here." He said, "I would never go hear John Weaver." And I looked at him and I said, "Why?" He said, "Because you ran off from your wife and married another woman." Come to find out there was a Johnny Weaver that was a wrestler who did that and then turned and supposedly got converted. I said, "Sir, you got the wrong John Weaver, I can assure you, because I got the same one that I started out with."

Scripture Reading — John 15:18

He said, "Oh, OK, I'm sorry." But see, there's somebody else with another name. But our Lord said, make sure that it's going to be done, you know, falsely. In Luke 21, verse 17, he said, "You shall be hated of all men for my name's sake." And then in John 15, verse 18, he said, "You know, if the world hate you, it hated me before it hated you." Now, I'm telling you all this just to point out the truth. We cannot capitulate. We cannot throw our convictions away due to pressure. We cannot give up the truth that we understand to be true just simply because we desire someone else's approval or peace or the absence of confrontation. I am sure that every one of us have had pressure placed upon us in one way or the other. But I suppose that none of us have ever had the pressure that Martin Luther had upon him when he stood before, and I will say it the way we always said it when I was younger, when he stood before the Diet of Worms. What a horrible diet. Well, actually it was the Diet of Worms. The Diet of Worms, Worms, Germany, the Diet was the Parliament. He was standing before the Parliament of Worms, Germany, and he was facing Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, the Pope, the Cardinals, and all of the high church officials. And they were all demanding that he recant, that he take back everything that he had written concerning the Pope and the church and take back everything that he said truthfully about Christ and the gospel.

And so here is what Martin Luther said. He looked at Charles V, and by the way, you must remember, they had the power to execute Martin Luther. But he looked at Charles V and the Pope and he said this, "Unless I am convinced by scriptures and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen." Now that's a conviction. A conviction is not going to change due to pressure. And I can assure you the pressure was placed upon Martin Luther. And he stood because he had a conviction and not a preference. So we cannot change our theology, we cannot change our minds, we cannot change our positions based upon pleasure or profit or pressure. There's a fourth reason that we cannot change.

The Test of Persecution

Persecution, ranging from mild ostracism to severe martyrdom, is the greatest test of conviction. Scripture and history show that true faith endures even unto death.

And I suppose it is the greatest test of all. And that is the test of persecution. And I want to suggest that this may be the most severe test of one's faith and one's convictions. But I want you to understand that persecution does not necessarily have to be severe in order to be persecution. You can have a mild persecution. Let me quote a verse I quoted earlier, Matthew 5, verse 11. Our Lord said, "Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name's sake." So reviling is a mild form of persecution. Slander is a mild form of persecution. Saying things that should not be said, gossiping about someone is a mild form of persecution. Our Lord told His disciples, in fact, I want you to look at it. Look at this.

Turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 10. Matthew chapter 10. And look, if you would please, at verse 23. Here's a little, I would say, a severer form of persecution. Matthew 10, verse 23. He said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 10:23

"But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another. For verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come."

Now wait a minute.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 10:23

"When they persecute you in this city, flee you to another."

So now it's not just reviling. Now it's not just mockery. Now they're out to get you. They may be confiscating your property, but at least you still have some leeway. You have the opportunity to remove yourself.

Now let me just put this the way it should be. Truthfully, as Christians, we should expect persecution. And I'm afraid we haven't seen anything the way we're going to see it. But our Lord said it like this in John 15 and verse 20. He said, "Remember the word that I have spoken unto you. The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept My saying, they will keep your saying also." But notice that if they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well. Our persecution is the result of the world's hatred of Jesus Christ. If they persecuted Me, they hated Him, they're going to persecute you. So anytime you find the church of Jesus Christ being attacked, anytime that you find Christians being attacked, persecuted, it's because they hate the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, our persecution may range from mild to severe to extreme. It could be as mild as ostracization. "Well, I don't like Steve, so I'm going to just ostracize him from this group, and we'll just ignore him, and we'll have our group." That's, you know, ostracizing people. Another is shunning people. He may come, but we just won't speak to him. We won't have anything to do with him. We'll ignore him. Shunning. That's a form of persecution. Confiscation of property. Excommunication. Prison.

Look in your Bibles, Luke chapter 21. Luke 21. And then I want you to go to Hebrews 11. Matthew, Mark, Luke. Look in Luke 21 and verse 12, just showing you how persecution can be ratcheted up by the powers that be. In Luke 21 and verse 12, our Lord said,

Scripture Reading — Luke 21:12

"But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake."

So there are some that will be thrown in prison just for the faith of Jesus Christ. How about Pastor Andrew Brunson? Have you heard of Andrew Brunson? If you haven't, you need to be praying for him. He has been arrested in Turkey by the president, what's his name, Erdogan. And he's already been in Turkey for years preaching. And really what has happened, he's now a pawn in a game because Erdogan wants a Muslim cleric in this country because he views him as an enemy, and he's trying to swap. And so now he's had Pastor Andrew Brunson in prison for about two years, just trying to get our government to swap out so he can kill a man. And Brunson hadn't done a thing.

Charging him with all kinds of spying and treason, which is absolutely insane. But I'm just simply saying, here's what some of them do. And that's what our Lord warned about. But if you'll look in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 11, you'll see the classic passage on persecution. Hebrews 11. And let's begin reading there with verse 32. Hebrews 11, verse 32. Watch if you would. Hebrews 11 and verse 32.

"And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of the lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight." "Turned to flight the armies of the aliens." Now see, these were some of the things done through faith, but now watch. "Women received their dead raised to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned. They were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with a sword."

"They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Now go back. He said women received their dead raised to life again and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance. Verse 36, "And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, of bonds and imprisonment." Note they were stoned. They were sawn asunder. This has a reference probably to Isaiah. Tradition says that the king was after him and he hid himself in a hollow tree. And they cut the tree down with him in it, and then they sawed the tree in two with him inside the tree. But at least it happened to some, whether it was Isaiah or not. But they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with a sword.

And note, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, had no proper clothing, destitute, afflicted, tormented. They wandered in deserts and in mountains and dens and caves of the earth. This is persecution. Now, when you think about dying for your conviction, when you think about the most extreme form of persecution, I hope if you've never read it, that you will take the time to read Fox's Book of Martyrs. Now, naturally, John Fox cannot list all the martyrs that have ever occurred or ever put to death. Because, number one, he's human. He would not possibly know them all anyhow. And of course this would mainly deal with England anyhow, or in Europe basically.

Historical Examples of Martyrdom

Weaver recounts the martyrdoms of Patrick Hamilton, George Wishart, Thomas Cranmer, and Thomas Bilney to illustrate unwavering conviction under extreme persecution.

There have been multitudes that have died for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But at least he gives you a large number of individuals who died in Scotland, in England, Ireland, other parts of Europe. Let me just tell you about several. Young Patrick Hamilton was Scotland's first martyr. He was only 24 years of age. Parliament in July 1525 had banned the importation of Luther's works into Scotland. In 1528, the Archbishop of St. Andrews summoned Hamilton for a debate. We're going to debate whether the Roman Catholic Church is here or whatever, and whether this Reformation doctrine, we're going to have a debate. It was a trap. And when young Hamilton showed up, he was accused of heresy and a hasty trial took place. A trial in those days normally would take several weeks. His took 12 hours.

He was sentenced to be burned at the stake, and he was. It took six long, excruciating hours for young Hamilton to die. His death intensified the opposition to Roman Catholicism and increased interest in the Reformation. His last words as he was being burned to death were these, "How long, O Lord, shall darkness cover this realm? How long will you suffer the tyranny of men? Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Twenty-four years of age. George Wishart was another preacher in Scotland. Wishart traveled all through the country proclaiming Reformation doctrines with skill and conviction. It was Cardinal David Baton, who was the Archbishop of St. Andrews, who had five Protestants executed in 1544, and he twice, twice had tried to have George Wishart murdered. That's a churchman now. Twice he tried to have George Wishart murdered. Well, the men in Scotland that believed the truth, in order to try to preserve Wishart's life, they had him move every day to a different location. Since there were so many threats upon his life, there was a bodyguard assigned to him. One of the men that helped guard George Wishart was John Knox, the trumpeter of Scotland. He had a large double-headed broad sword and was part of the bodyguard that went everywhere Wishart went in order to protect him. And when you came to one of Wishart's sermons, you didn't get a mass. You didn't get a mass in Latin.

What you had was congregational singing and at least an hour-long preaching in the English language. I mean, he just preached the Word of God. But in 1536, he believed that his death was imminent. He believed that his arrest was going to be unavoidable. And so, Wishart dismissed his bodyguard. And he said this, "One is sufficient for a sacrifice." I'm willing to die. Wishart was arrested. He was condemned as a heretic.

He was strangled, burned at the stake by order of Cardinal Baton. As the fire was lit, Wishart said this, "This flame has scorched my body, yet it hath not daunted my spirit." And then he's talking about Cardinal Baton. He said, "But he who from yonder high place beholdeth us with such pride shall within a few days lie the same as ignominiously as now he is seen proudly to rest himself." So let me translate that. Cardinal Baton, you're fixing to die yourself, and it's not going to be for your honor. You're going to die. Obviously, persecutions are going on in Scotland, persecutions are going on in England, persecutions are going on in France, everywhere. But in England, Mary, pretty well known as Bloody Mary, was persecuting anyone and everyone that did not adhere to Roman Catholicism. Mary I, Queen of England and Ireland from 1553 to 1558, restored Roman Catholicism to England and the authority of the Pope. She was known as Bloody Mary because she had at a minimum 300 Protestants burned at the stake for heresy against the Roman Catholic faith.

One of her martyrs was Thomas Cranmer. Thomas Cranmer was an older man, a man of peace, a gentle soul, a warm individual who shunned controversy. He did not like controversy. He had many days of glory, of power, and prominence. Thomas Cranmer was the primate of all England. Let me spell that out for you. He was the Archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas Cranmer was the protector of kings, the trusted friend of queens, he was a loving husband and father, a trusted churchman, and the author of the Book of Common Prayer. Cranmer was arrested in 1556 and thrown into a damp, dark prison.

He was cut off from his friends, he was cut off from his family, he was wracked by grief. He was bombarded by the Roman Catholic bishops and their rhetoric on a daily basis. And he was growing weary and tired. There were only two options that were available to Thomas Cranmer. First, he could assert the truth that he had long preached, that Jesus Christ alone was the head of the church, that the Mass was a Roman Catholic innovation, that purgatory was not found in the Word of God, and that man must be born again. Or second, he could give in to the pressure and retain his position as Archbishop of Canterbury just by signing a piece of paper. The interesting thing is just a few weeks earlier, two of his friends, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, had been burned at the stake. I had been there and stood on the very spot where these men were burned at the stake.

It's now at the edge of a street if they have moved the street. But Cranmer could look out his prison window and see where Latimer and Ridley had been burned at the stake. And now his mind began to play tricks with him. Because he's asking himself, what good did it do for those men to be burned at the stake? Their voices were now silent. They could no longer serve the Lord Jesus. They had no ministry. They had no influence. They were gone.

And he understood that if he persisted in his belief, then that is going to be his lot as well. And to avoid being burned at the stake and to retain his position, all he had to do was to sign that piece of paper and then publicly recant. Cranmer signed the recantation. He sincerely believed in Jesus Christ. He sincerely believed the Word of God. He sincerely believed everything that he had preached. After he signed the paper, there was a relief just for a little while.

And then Matthew 10, verse 33, came roaring into his mind, where our Lord said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 10:33

"But whosoever shall deny me before man, him also will I deny before my Father who is in heaven."

Cranmer had been a peacemaker. He was a gentleman. He was kind-hearted. He did not think that he could take a burning at the stake. He had much rather have died in his own bed in a respectable state. Once he signed that, and Matthew 10:33 began to haunt his mind, he knew he had betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ. He spent hours alone, weeping, crying, begging for forgiveness. He knew that Peter had denied his Lord three times, and yet the Lord had forgiven him and restored him. And his mind was if he could just take that quill pen and make it suck up that ink, or those words would melt. But they would not and could not. He had signed. And now the bishops had allotted him a day at the big cathedral where he was to publicly recant and deny everything that he had preached. When he got to the cathedral, it was packed.

Many of his followers were there. They were waiting to see if their teacher really denied the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, the bishops were there because they were there to gloat over the fact that they had pressured this man and were persecuting him to the extent that he was going to publicly deny the truth. When it came time for Cranmer to speak, I want you to listen to what he said. Cranmer said, "I come to the great thing that troubles my conscience more than any other thing that I've ever said or did in my life. And that is the setting abroad of writings contrary to the truth, which here now I renounce and refuse." Wow. So the bishops are sitting there and they're thinking, "We've got him." The people are sitting there and they're thinking, "Oh my, he's going to deny the Lord Jesus Christ." So there was tense, a tense silence on the part of the bishops, on the part of the people.

Every eye was fixed upon him. And Cranmer continued, he said this, "I've written many things untrue. And forasmuch as my hand offended in writing contrary to my heart, therefore my hand shall be first punished. For if I come to the fire, it shall be first burned." He then spread his shoulders and continued, "I refuse him as Christ's enemy and an Antichrist in all his false doctrine, and as for the sacrament..." And by this time, the bishops began screaming and railing upon him. Like Stephen in Acts 6, they gnashed upon him with their teeth. They took the old man and tied him to a stake and set him on fire. Here is the Archbishop of Canterbury. His wife and children are safely in Germany at this particular point. They did not even find out until weeks later that he was dead. When Cranmer was tied to the stake, the fire was lit. His followers were there. And true to his word, as the fire was kindled and began to leap around him, he purposely took his right hand and held that right hand in the flames and watched the flames dissolve the flesh and the bone until there was nothing left but a stub. And then the old man died saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." That's a conviction.

You may waver because you're human. You may waver because you're weak. But if it's a real conviction, you'll die for it. Little Thomas Bilney, another martyr, was visited by his friends in his cell before he was to be burned at the stake the next day. And his friends found him in a happy mood, had just eaten a big supper. And they asked him, "How can you be so happy knowing that you're going to be burned to death tomorrow?" With that, young Thomas Bilney said, "I no more fear the flame than I fear anything." And he took his finger and held it over the flame of the candle until the candle burned the flesh off his finger and nothing but the bone was exposed. He said, "As my Lord has protected my finger from pain tonight, He'll protect my body from pain tomorrow." And he did so. There is a theology of change which I'm going to show you. And there is a way to change.

Conclusion and Call to Stand Firm

Weaver concludes that believers must not change their convictions due to pleasure, profit, pressure, or persecution, but must stand on God's Word and not deny Christ.

But we cannot change because of pleasure or profit, and I would include poverty, nor can we change because of pressure and persecution. We must prepare our heads. We must prepare our hearts. And as the Apostle Paul said, to stand, and having done all, to stand. And we have to remember Matthew 10 and verse 33, where our Lord said, "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven." We cannot, under any circumstance, deny the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, in Thy name we bow to Thee this day. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You for the testimony of these men that demonstrate, Lord, what real, genuine conviction is. And help us, Lord, to be men and women of conviction. Help us to see the authority of Your Word and stand on Your truth and for Your truth. Give us grace, Lord, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

In Thy name we pray, Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Distinction Between Preference and Conviction

Summary: A preference is a desire that can change under circumstances, while a conviction is a deep-rooted belief based on an authority, specifically Scripture for Christians.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'A preference is something that we desire above anything else... A conviction is a deep-rooted belief or standard that has been imposed upon us by our authority... for the Christian, our authority is the Word of God.'

Tests of Conviction: Pleasure and Profit

Summary: Pleasure and profit are tests that reveal whether one holds convictions or preferences; those who compromise for pleasure or money lack true convictions.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If you're going to sacrifice your honor... for pleasure, then you don't have a conviction' and 'if you're willing to allow your positions to be compromised for money or for profit, then you don't really have convictions.'

Test of Pressure

Summary: Pressure from coercion, peer disapproval, or slander tests convictions; believers must not give in to avoid confrontation or seek approval.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'Once pressure is put upon us, we're either going to give in or cave into the thoughts and the desires and plans of others, or we're going to hold fast.'

Test of Persecution

Summary: Persecution, from mild ostracism to martyrdom, is the most severe test of faith and conviction; true believers will endure rather than deny Christ.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'I want to suggest that this may be the most severe test of one's faith and one's convictions... Our Lord said, Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you...'

Historical Martyrs as Examples of Conviction

Summary: The martyrdoms of Patrick Hamilton, George Wishart, Thomas Cranmer, and Thomas Bilney demonstrate unwavering conviction under extreme persecution.

Evidence: Weaver recounts Cranmer's final words and actions: 'He purposely took his right hand and held that right hand in the flames... And then the old man died saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'

The Necessity of Standing Firm on Scripture

Summary: Believers must not change their theology or convictions based on external pressures but must stand on the authority of God's Word, even unto death.

Evidence: Weaver concludes, 'We cannot change because of pleasure or profit... nor can we change because of pressure and persecution... We cannot, under any circumstance, deny the Lord Jesus Christ.'

Key Arguments

Preferences are changeable; convictions are not.

Summary: Preferences can be altered by circumstances, but convictions, rooted in Scripture, remain steadfast.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'A preference will be easily changed under the right circumstances, but a conviction is not going to be changed.'

Pleasure reveals the absence of conviction.

Summary: Those who prioritize pleasure over truth demonstrate they have preferences, not convictions.

Evidence: Weaver cites Demas: 'Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.'

Profit and poverty both test convictions.

Summary: Compromising for money or resorting to theft in poverty shows a lack of conviction.

Evidence: Weaver references Proverbs 30:8-9: 'Lest I be full and deny thee... Or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.'

Pressure exposes true character.

Summary: Circumstances do not create character but reveal it; pressure shows whether one has convictions or preferences.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Circumstances never make or break a man, they just reveal him.'

Believers will face slander and reviling.

Summary: Scripture warns that Christians will be spoken against falsely, but they must not compromise.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Matthew 5:11: 'Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.'

Persecution is expected and can be severe.

Summary: From ostracism to martyrdom, persecution tests faith; true conviction endures even death.

Evidence: Weaver cites Hebrews 11:36-38: 'Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings... they were stoned, they were sawn asunder.'

Denying Christ under pressure has eternal consequences.

Summary: Matthew 10:33 warns that denying Christ before men leads to denial before the Father.

Evidence: Weaver quotes: 'But whosoever shall deny me before man, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.'

Historical martyrs exemplify unwavering conviction.

Summary: The accounts of Cranmer, Wishart, and others show that true conviction leads to faithfulness unto death.

Evidence: Weaver describes Cranmer: 'He purposely took his right hand and held that right hand in the flames... And then the old man died saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'

Scripture References

Malachi 3:6

Context: Weaver opens with this verse to establish God's immutability as the foundation for the series.

Titus 1:9

Context: Used to emphasize holding fast to the faithful word as taught, grounding convictions in Scripture.

Proverbs 11:4

Context: Cited to show that riches do not profit in the day of wrath, supporting the test of profit.

Proverbs 11:28

Context: Used to contrast trusting in riches with the flourishing of the righteous.

Revelation 18:7

Context: Referenced to illustrate that great riches come to nothing, reinforcing the test of profit.

Proverbs 30:8-9

Context: Weaver reads this passage to show that both riches and poverty can lead to denial of God or theft, testing convictions.

Psalm 41:5

Context: David's enemies speak evil of him, illustrating the pressure of slander.

Matthew 5:11

Context: Jesus teaches that believers are blessed when reviled and persecuted falsely for His sake.

James 4:11

Context: Believers are forbidden to speak evil of one another, highlighting the sin of slander.

1 Peter 3:10

Context: To love life and see good days, one must refrain from speaking evil.

1 Peter 3:16

Context: Having a good conscience so that those who speak evil of believers may be ashamed.

Luke 21:17

Context: Jesus warns that believers will be hated by all for His name's sake.

John 15:18

Context: The world hated Christ first, so it will hate His followers.

Matthew 10:23

Context: Jesus instructs disciples to flee to another city when persecuted, showing a severer form of persecution.

John 15:20

Context: If they persecuted Christ, they will persecute His followers; persecution stems from hatred of Jesus.

Luke 21:12

Context: Believers will be delivered to synagogues and prisons, brought before rulers for Christ's sake.

Hebrews 11:32-40

Context: The classic passage on persecution, detailing the sufferings of the faithful, including torture, mockings, stoning, and being sawn asunder.

Matthew 10:33

Context: Whoever denies Christ before men will be denied before the Father; this haunted Cranmer after his recantation.

Historical References

Southern Poverty Law Center

Context: Weaver criticizes the SPLC for labeling dissenters as racists and bigots, using it as an example of organizational pressure.

Ron Paul

Context: Mentioned as being labeled a white supremacist by the SPLC, illustrating absurd pressure.

Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms

Context: Luther's stand before Charles V and the Pope, refusing to recant unless convinced by Scripture, exemplifies conviction under pressure.

Andrew Brunson

Context: A pastor imprisoned in Turkey for his faith, used as a modern example of persecution.

Fox's Book of Martyrs

Context: Weaver recommends reading this book for accounts of martyrs, though he notes it cannot list all.

Patrick Hamilton

Context: Scotland's first martyr, burned at the stake at age 24 after a hasty trial for heresy.

George Wishart

Context: Scottish preacher protected by John Knox, eventually strangled and burned; his death intensified Reformation support.

Cardinal David Baton

Context: Archbishop of St. Andrews who orchestrated the executions of Protestants, including Wishart.

John Knox

Context: Served as a bodyguard for George Wishart, later a key figure in the Scottish Reformation.

Bloody Mary (Mary I of England)

Context: Queen who restored Roman Catholicism and burned over 300 Protestants, including Thomas Cranmer.

Important Quotes

For I am the Lord, I change not.

Significance: Foundation of the series: God's immutability contrasts with human fickleness.

A preference is something that we desire above anything else. It's a choice. It's an estimation of value. It is a like.

Significance: Defines preference as a changeable desire.

A conviction is a deep-rooted belief or standard that has been imposed upon us by our authority.

Significance: Defines conviction as based on authority, specifically Scripture for Christians.

Circumstances never make or break a man, they just reveal him.

Significance: Key principle that tests reveal existing character, not create it.

Unless I am convinced by scriptures and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.

Significance: Martin Luther's declaration of conviction under pressure, exemplifying the test of pressure.

I come to the great thing that troubles my conscience more than any other thing that I've ever said or did in my life. And that is the setting abroad of writings contrary to the truth, which here now I renounce and refuse.

Significance: Cranmer's public recantation of his recantation, showing the triumph of conviction over persecution.

I've written many things untrue. And forasmuch as my hand offended in writing contrary to my heart, therefore my hand shall be first punished. For if I come to the fire, it shall be first burned.

Significance: Cranmer's resolve to punish his offending hand first, demonstrating the depth of his conviction.

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Significance: Cranmer's dying words, echoing Stephen, showing ultimate faithfulness.

Discussion Questions

How does understanding the difference between a preference and a conviction affect the way you approach disagreements within the church?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that convictions are based on Scripture, while preferences are personal desires.

In what ways have you experienced the test of pleasure or profit in your own life, and how did you respond?

Context: Weaver describes how pleasure and profit can cause compromise.

How can believers prepare themselves to withstand pressure from organizations or individuals that demand compromise?

Context: Weaver discusses pressure from groups like the SPLC and the need to hold fast.

What forms of mild persecution (ostracism, shunning, gossip) have you witnessed or experienced, and how should Christians respond biblically?

Context: Weaver lists mild forms of persecution and references Matthew 5:11.

How does the example of Thomas Cranmer's struggle and eventual martyrdom challenge or encourage you in your own faith?

Context: Weaver recounts Cranmer's initial recantation and later repentance and death.

Why is it important to remember that persecution stems from the world's hatred of Jesus Christ, not just personal animosity?

Context: Weaver explains John 15:20, linking persecution to hatred of Christ.

How can the church support members who are facing severe persecution, such as imprisonment or martyrdom?

Context: Weaver mentions Andrew Brunson and the biblical warnings of imprisonment.

What does Matthew 10:33 teach about the eternal consequences of denying Christ, and how should that shape our daily witness?

Context: Weaver highlights this verse as the turning point for Cranmer.

Applications

Examine your beliefs to distinguish preferences from convictions.

Summary: Evaluate whether your strongly held positions are rooted in Scripture or personal desire, and be willing to adjust preferences while holding fast to biblical convictions.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'So many people want to think that they are men and women of conviction, when in reality we are men and women of preference.'

Guard against compromise for pleasure or profit.

Summary: Recognize the temptation to sacrifice truth for enjoyment or financial gain, and choose to suffer affliction with God's people rather than enjoy sinful pleasures.

Evidence: Weaver cites Moses who 'chose to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.'

Prepare for pressure by grounding yourself in Scripture.

Summary: Anticipate slander, ridicule, and coercion, and resolve like Luther to have your conscience captive to God's Word, not human approval.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Luther: 'My conscience is captive to the word of God.'

Expect and endure persecution as part of Christian discipleship.

Summary: Understand that persecution, from mild ostracism to severe suffering, is promised by Christ, and prepare to stand firm even unto death.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Truthfully, as Christians, we should expect persecution.'

Do not deny Christ under any circumstance.

Summary: Remember Matthew 10:33 and the eternal consequence of denying Jesus; let the examples of martyrs inspire unwavering faithfulness.

Evidence: Weaver concludes, 'We cannot, under any circumstance, deny the Lord Jesus Christ.'

Trust God's grace to sustain you in trials.

Summary: Like Thomas Bilney, rely on God's protection and strength to endure suffering, knowing that He can give peace and courage beyond human ability.

Evidence: Weaver recounts Bilney's words: 'As my Lord has protected my finger from pain tonight, He'll protect my body from pain tomorrow.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T12:24:30Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T20:38:13Z

Clean Transcript

The Theology of Change - 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Malachi 3 and verse 6. This is going to be the second message in the series on the theology of change, or changing your mind doctrinally. Since some of you were not here last week, I'm going to take a few minutes and review, and then we'll pick up and go from there. But in Malachi 3 and verse 6, the Scripture says, "For I am the Lord, I change not."
#1 | 0:00 to 0:30 | cleaned
"Therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed." I pointed out how God only is immutable. He is changeless. We are creatures of change. We are fickle. And the fact that many times we will not only change at the drop of a hat, we'll drop the hat ourselves just so we can change. So obviously last week I began dealing with the difference between a preference and a conviction. So many people want to think that they are men and women of conviction, when in reality we are men and women of preference.
#2 | 0:32 to 1:16 | cleaned
Let me give you some distinctions. May I point out that a preference is something that we desire above anything else. It's a choice. It's an estimation of value. It is a like. I tell people that I really prefer a ribeye steak, but I will eat a sirloin. See, I prefer cherry ice cream, but I will eat vanilla. So it's a preference, and it's something that we like more than anything else, or we simply prefer it more than anything else.
#3 | 1:17 to 1:55 | cleaned
By the way, last week also I went and showed you how the word "prefer," "preferred," and "preferring" is used in the New Testament. According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary, he defines preference as the act of preferring one thing above another, estimation of one thing above another, choice of one thing rather than another, and then he says it is our reasoning that gives value to our choices. So if you've not heard the first message, I would encourage you to do so. But a conviction differs from a preference. A conviction is a deep-rooted belief or standard that has been imposed upon us by our authority. And let me just say this, for the Christian, for the child of God, our authority is the Word of God.
#4 | 1:55 to 2:50 | cleaned
The Scripture is our sole rule for faith and practice. Everything that we believe and everything that we do should be rooted and grounded in Scripture. Paul wrote Titus, in Titus 1 and verse 9, he says, "holding fast the faithful word as he had been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers." But notice he said, "holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught."
#5 | 2:51 to 3:23 | cleaned
I was asked a question last week after the morning service, and the question was this: "Well, what about those who are not Christians? What about the cults or what about the other false religions?" And the answer to the question was—the question was dealing with their convictions. I said, "Their convictions are likewise based upon their authority, whatever that authority is. It may be a wrong authority and their convictions may be wrong, but it is still based upon their authority." Every conviction is based upon an authority. A preference is not. A preference may have a biblical influence, but it doesn't have to have. But a conviction always has a biblical influence, or at least an influence from some authority. There's also a difference between a conviction and a preference in the sense that a preference may be held with great strength, but it will change under the right circumstances.
#6 | 3:24 to 4:30 | cleaned
So, Allison, I have gone in restaurants and I have ordered something and they come back and they say, "We're out of that." Well, that's what I really want. "Well, we're out of it." Well, OK, I'll take something else rather than have to get up and go somewhere else. You know, I'm just going to be saying a preference will be easily changed under the right circumstances, but a conviction is not going to be changed.
#7 | 4:32 to 4:57 | cleaned
Now, last week in the first message, I began pointing out the tests that are given to us in the Scripture that will pinpoint whether or not we have a preference or a conviction. The very first test or the very first evidence as to whether or not we have a preference or conviction is that of pleasure. And the truth of the matter is most people are desire-oriented, they're pleasure-oriented. Every unsaved person prefers his pleasure. In fact, the Bible tells us that men by nature are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. And if you're going to sacrifice your honor, if you're going to sacrifice your character, if you're going to sacrifice your position for pleasure, then you don't have a conviction.
#8 | 4:58 to 5:48 | cleaned
It's like the Apostle Paul said of Demas, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." So he preferred pleasure rather than the truth of God. Just the opposite, the Bible says that Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. So obviously pleasure is one of the greatest tests, and I pointed out last week how many, many individuals have been slain at the altar of pleasure because they sacrifice everything for pleasure. Then the second test I pointed out last week was that of profit. So if you're willing to allow your positions to be compromised for money or for profit, then you don't really have convictions. You have a preference. And I really showed you from the Scripture how God condemned Balaam and talking about how Balaam ran greedily after reward and how Balaam was wrong in so many areas and so many respects. When you stop and think about money or riches, most everybody's willing to sacrifice their own soul for money.
#9 | 5:48 to 6:59 | cleaned
In fact, our Lord said that Himself. He said, "What will a man exchange for his own soul? If he gained the whole world and loses his own soul, well, he's still the loser." So obviously, the Bible tells us in the book of Proverbs 11, in verse 4, "Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivereth from death." So you can be the richest man in the world, and you're still going to die, and it's not going to profit you one thing. It's just going to be left. The Bible says in Proverbs 11, in verse 28, "He that trusteth in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall flourish as a branch." And then when God speaks about how Babylon has fallen, in Revelation 18, verse 7, He said, "For in one hour so great riches have come to nothing." One of my favorite stories is about the really wealthy man who died.
#10 | 7:00 to 7:57 | cleaned
And as they were carrying the casket to the grave, one of the men carrying the casket, pallbearer, looked at the other one and said, "How much did he leave?" And the other one answered, "He left it all." And that's a fact. He left it all.
#11 | 7:58 to 8:18 | cleaned
Now, since I'm pointing out how that profit is a real test, let me point out just the opposite. Poverty is also a test. It's not just profit and riches as well. It has been said that when a Christian gets rich, God either gains a fortune or loses a man. But the same could also be said concerning poverty. When a Christian is reduced to poverty, he will either become more submissive, more obedient, and more faithful, and more dependent upon God, or he will become the enemy of God in seeking to extricate himself from his poverty. Let me show you.
#12 | 8:19 to 9:03 | cleaned
Hold Malachi, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Proverbs chapter 30. Proverbs chapter 30, and look if you would please at verses 8 and 9. Very interesting. Proverbs chapter 30 at verses 8 and 9. Notice what the wise man says. Proverbs 30 verse 8: "Remove far from me vanity and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food convenient for me."
#13 | 9:04 to 9:37 | cleaned
Now watch, "Lest I be full and deny thee and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain." Now, I want you to note, if you would please, verse 9, "Lest I be full and deny thee." You know, our Lord taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." Most of us don't pray that, because we have our freezers full, we have the pantries full, etc. And so, he's saying here is one problem with riches, or plenty, in the fact that we just kind of ignore God and overlook Him and think we don't need Him.
#14 | 9:37 to 10:22 | cleaned
But then he talks about poverty as well. And he said, "Lest I be poor and steal." And I want you to watch this: "and take the name of my God in vain."
#15 | 10:23 to 10:34 | cleaned
Now, when we hear preachers preach about taking God's name in vain, usually they're talking about cursing. They're talking about profanity. It's interesting here that you can take God's name in vain and never curse and never use a slang word because theft is here considered taking God's name in vain. And it's not just me sticking a gun to Gary's head and saying, "Gary, give me all your money." If I defraud him, if I deceive him, if I do anything that's underhanded, it's still a form of theft. And it is called taking the name of God in vain.
#16 | 10:35 to 11:12 | cleaned
How one acts when he is distressed and despondent and desperate equally reveals whether he has a conviction or a preference. So it's not just profit and pleasure that test us. I'm going to give you two more today because next Sunday, Lord willing, I'm going to show you why change is absolutely necessary and the next two messages will deal on how we are to change biblically. But the third test today is that of pressure. Pressure may take many forms. It may take the form of coercion.
#17 | 11:13 to 11:53 | cleaned
Peer approval or disapproval, loss of opportunities, loss of jobs, loss of positions, personal attacks, ridicule, mockery, accusatory denunciation, and slander. And the truth of the matter is this, everybody wants to be liked. Everybody wants to be loved and respected. And truthfully, we wish to avoid confrontations. No one wants to engage in embarrassing displays of animosity. Nobody wants to be cussed out in front of everybody else. If we could get by without ever having anything like that happen to us, we would be happy.
#18 | 11:54 to 12:40 | cleaned
But unhappily, that is not the case. Once pressure is put upon us, we're either going to give in or cave into the thoughts and the desires and plans of others, or we're going to hold fast. You've probably heard me say this before, but I'm going to say it again. Circumstances never make or break a man, they just reveal him. Circumstances never make or break a man, they just reveal him. So here is a man in war.
#19 | 12:41 to 13:15 | cleaned
And the enemy comes rushing in. And he throws down his weapon and turns and runs. And someone says, "Boy, that battle made him a coward." No, he was already a coward in his heart. The battle just revealed him. Or, he picks up his weapon and he runs straight into the enemy and he saves the day and saves his own company. Someone says, "Well, that battle made him a hero." No, he was already a hero. He was already brave in his heart. The battle just revealed him.
#20 | 13:17 to 13:45 | cleaned
So, pressure is going to reveal whether or not we have real convictions or preferences. You're going to understand, or I hope you're going to understand, the fact that every one of us as Christians are going to be maligned, we're going to be spoken concerning evil, and pressure is going to be put upon us to compromise and to throw away our standards. And sometimes it's going to be done by organizations. For instance, the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is not southern, although it's located in Montgomery, Alabama. It's certainly not in poverty, since it controls half a billion dollars. And it's not a law center based upon God's law or constitutional law. It may be a legal center.
#21 | 13:46 to 14:38 | cleaned
About the only thing accurate in that is the word "center," you know, and it might be more accurately spelled if you spelled it S-I-N-N-E-R. But anyhow, anyone who happens to disagree with them is labeled a racist, a bigot, a homophobe, or whatever. Even Ron Paul has been called by them a white supremacist. Isn't that crazy? One black professor who was a real conservative had been labeled racist by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
#22 | 14:38 to 15:13 | cleaned
It's insane, but it seems like on every hand you have organizations or you have governmental entities putting the pressure to be politically correct. But unhappily, it's not just organization. Sometimes it is individual as well. Everybody's heard the old adage, "Well, there's strength in diversity." Well, the interesting thing is when you hear that and you begin to disagree with some people, then the next thing you know, there's no strength in adversity.
#23 | 15:14 to 15:51 | cleaned
The only strength there is, is when you kowtow to them and bow down to them and accept their terms and their positions and their theology and their understanding, because they're not going to allow you to live by the enlightenment and the illumination and the understanding that God has given you. No, they demand that you bow to what they think, and what they believe. So they seek to dominate, to dictate, and control, and they're going to apply all the pressure that's absolutely necessary to make sure that you bow to their understanding.
#24 | 15:51 to 16:26 | cleaned
Now, let me just give you some scriptures, and I want you to think with me. David said in Psalm 41 in verse 5, "My enemies speak evil of me. When shall he die? And his name perish." My enemies speak evil of me. So they're not only cursing David and spreading lies and slander. "When shall he die?" We want him dead. We want him out of the way.
#25 | 16:27 to 16:55 | cleaned
And you know, the interesting thing is sometimes you find out that people are saying things about you that are not even true. And why would they say some of those things to begin with? I never will forget years ago, years ago, when Randy Weaver's wife and son were killed. There was a pastor out in Colorado at that time. His name was Pete Peters. And after that happened, he invited a lot of preachers to come out to his place and just try to figure out what are we going to do next time if this happens. Now, Pete Peters was a controversial individual, theologically, politically, and I was invited to go along with a lot of other preachers, but I could not go because I did not have an opening.
#26 | 16:56 to 17:59 | cleaned
I was supposed to be preaching somewhere else, so I didn't go. But lo and behold, the Southern Poverty Law Center said that John Weaver was there and that I was a leader in that movement and that I preached there as well. Now how in the world they got that information I don't know because I wasn't there and I didn't preach and I was not a leader in that movement. But another pastor friend of mine who went and did preach, they never even mentioned him.
#27 | 17:59 to 18:31 | cleaned
So I'm just simply saying, this is what David is talking about. "My enemies speak evil of me. When shall he die?" You remember what our Lord said in Matthew 5 and verse 11? He said, "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake." Wow. Men are going to revile you. They're going to persecute you. They're going to say all manner of evil against you for my sake. And here's the passage. And I'm going to be preaching on this passage, I hope, in three or four weeks. But James 4 and verse 11. Here's what James said, "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law. But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge." So God is actually forbidding us to speak evil one of another. And I'm going to explain that when I get to it.
#28 | 18:32 to 19:34 | cleaned
And then in 1 Peter 3 and verse 10, "For he that will love life, and have good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile." Isn't that interesting? And then in 1 Peter 3, verse 16, he said, "And having a good conscience, that whereas they speak evil of you as evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ."
#29 | 19:35 to 20:01 | cleaned
So each of these passages demonstrate that there's going to be all kinds of pressure placed upon the believers. We're going to be reviled. We're going to be mocked. We're going to be ridiculed. We're going to be hated. And we need to make sure that the derogatory remarks that are spoken against us are spoken falsely. Or at least if they're spoken against us, they're spoken against us for the truth's sake.
#30 | 20:01 to 20:32 | cleaned
Years ago, I was preaching in North Carolina and I was with the pastor and we were out somewhere and he ran into this one man that he knew. And he said, "I'd like to invite you to come to our church for the meeting we're holding." The man said, "Well, who's preaching?" And he looked at me and said, "John Weaver, right here." He said, "I would never go hear John Weaver." And I looked at him and I said, "Why?" He said, "Because you ran off from your wife and married another woman." Come to find out there was a Johnny Weaver that was a wrestler who did that and then turned and supposedly got converted. I said, "Sir, you got the wrong John Weaver, I can assure you, because I got the same one that I started out with."
#31 | 20:34 to 21:33 | cleaned
He said, "Oh, OK, I'm sorry." But see, there's somebody else with another name. But our Lord said, make sure that it's going to be done, you know, falsely. In Luke 21, verse 17, he said, "You shall be hated of all men for my name's sake." And then in John 15, verse 18, he said, "You know, if the world hate you, it hated me before it hated you."
#32 | 21:35 to 22:00 | cleaned
Now, I'm telling you all this just to point out the truth. We cannot capitulate. We cannot throw our convictions away due to pressure. We cannot give up the truth that we understand to be true just simply because we desire someone else's approval or peace or the absence of confrontation. I am sure that every one of us have had pressure placed upon us in one way or the other. But I suppose that none of us have ever had the pressure that Martin Luther had upon him when he stood before, and I will say it the way we always said it when I was younger, when he stood before the Diet of Worms. What a horrible diet. Well, actually it was the Diet of Worms. The Diet of Worms, Worms, Germany, the Diet was the Parliament. He was standing before the Parliament of Worms, Germany, and he was facing Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, the Pope, the Cardinals, and all of the high church officials. And they were all demanding that he recant, that he take back everything that he had written concerning the Pope and the church and take back everything that he said truthfully about Christ and the gospel.
#33 | 22:01 to 23:32 | cleaned
And so here is what Martin Luther said. He looked at Charles V, and by the way, you must remember, they had the power to execute Martin Luther. But he looked at Charles V and the Pope and he said this, "Unless I am convinced by scriptures and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen." Now that's a conviction. A conviction is not going to change due to pressure. And I can assure you the pressure was placed upon Martin Luther. And he stood because he had a conviction and not a preference. So we cannot change our theology, we cannot change our minds, we cannot change our positions based upon pleasure or profit or pressure. There's a fourth reason that we cannot change.
#34 | 23:35 to 25:04 | cleaned
And I suppose it is the greatest test of all. And that is the test of persecution. And I want to suggest that this may be the most severe test of one's faith and one's convictions. But I want you to understand that persecution does not necessarily have to be severe in order to be persecution. You can have a mild persecution. Let me quote a verse I quoted earlier, Matthew 5, verse 11.
#35 | 25:05 to 25:40 | cleaned
Our Lord said, "Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name's sake." So reviling is a mild form of persecution. Slander is a mild form of persecution. Saying things that should not be said, gossiping about someone is a mild form of persecution. Our Lord told His disciples, in fact, I want you to look at it. Look at this.
#36 | 25:41 to 26:15 | cleaned
Turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 10. Matthew chapter 10. And look, if you would please, at verse 23. Here's a little, I would say, a severer form of persecution. Matthew 10, verse 23. He said, "But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another. For verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come." Now wait a minute. "When they persecute you in this city, flee you to another."
#37 | 26:15 to 26:50 | cleaned
So now it's not just reviling. Now it's not just mockery.
#38 | 26:50 to 26:56 | cleaned
Now they're out to get you. They may be confiscating your property, but at least you still have some leeway. You have the opportunity to remove yourself.
#39 | 26:57 to 27:08 | cleaned
Now let me just put this the way it should be. Truthfully, as Christians, we should expect persecution. And I'm afraid we haven't seen anything the way we're going to see it. But our Lord said it like this in John 15 and verse 20. He said, "Remember the word that I have spoken unto you. The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept My saying, they will keep your saying also." But notice that if they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well. Our persecution is the result of the world's hatred of Jesus Christ. If they persecuted Me, they hated Him, they're going to persecute you. So anytime you find the church of Jesus Christ being attacked, anytime that you find Christians being attacked, persecuted, it's because they hate the Lord Jesus Christ.
#40 | 27:09 to 28:16 | cleaned
Now, our persecution may range from mild to severe to extreme. It could be as mild as ostracization. "Well, I don't like Steve, so I'm going to just ostracize him from this group, and we'll just ignore him, and we'll have our group." That's, you know, ostracizing people. Another is shunning people. He may come, but we just won't speak to him. We won't have anything to do with him. We'll ignore him. Shunning. That's a form of persecution. Confiscation of property. Excommunication. Prison.
#41 | 28:17 to 28:58 | cleaned
Look in your Bibles, Luke chapter 21. Luke 21. And then I want you to go to Hebrews 11. Matthew, Mark, Luke. Look in Luke 21 and verse 12, just showing you how persecution can be ratcheted up by the powers that be. In Luke 21 and verse 12, our Lord said, "But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake." So there are some that will be thrown in prison just for the faith of Jesus Christ.
#42 | 29:02 to 29:41 | cleaned
How about Pastor Andrew Brunson? Have you heard of Andrew Brunson? If you haven't, you need to be praying for him. He has been arrested in Turkey by the president, what's his name, Erdogan. And he's already been in Turkey for years preaching. And really what has happened, he's now a pawn in a game because Erdogan wants a Muslim cleric in this country because he views him as an enemy, and he's trying to swap. And so now he's had Pastor Andrew Brunson in prison for about two years, just trying to get our government to swap out so he can kill a man. And Brunson hadn't done a thing.
#43 | 29:41 to 30:26 | cleaned
Charging him with all kinds of spying and treason, which is absolutely insane. But I'm just simply saying, here's what some of them do. And that's what our Lord warned about. But if you'll look in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 11, you'll see the classic passage on persecution. Hebrews 11. And let's begin reading there with verse 32. Hebrews 11, verse 32. Watch if you would. Hebrews 11 and verse 32.
#44 | 30:27 to 31:04 | cleaned
"And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of the lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight."
#45 | 31:04 to 31:32 | cleaned
"Turned to flight the armies of the aliens." Now see, these were some of the things done through faith, but now watch. "Women received their dead raised to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned. They were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with a sword."
#46 | 31:33 to 32:05 | cleaned
"They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Now go back. He said women received their dead raised to life again and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance. Verse 36, "And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, of bonds and imprisonment." Note they were stoned. They were sawn asunder.
#47 | 32:05 to 32:55 | cleaned
This has a reference probably to Isaiah. Tradition says that the king was after him and he hid himself in a hollow tree. And they cut the tree down with him in it, and then they sawed the tree in two with him inside the tree. But at least it happened to some, whether it was Isaiah or not. But they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with a sword.
#48 | 32:55 to 33:26 | cleaned
And note, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, had no proper clothing, destitute, afflicted, tormented. They wandered in deserts and in mountains and dens and caves of the earth. This is persecution.
#49 | 33:27 to 33:41 | cleaned
Now, when you think about dying for your conviction, when you think about the most extreme form of persecution, I hope if you've never read it, that you will take the time to read Fox's Book of Martyrs. Now, naturally, John Fox cannot list all the martyrs that have ever occurred or ever put to death. Because, number one, he's human. He would not possibly know them all anyhow. And of course this would mainly deal with England anyhow, or in Europe basically.
#50 | 33:43 to 34:21 | cleaned
There have been multitudes that have died for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But at least he gives you a large number of individuals who died in Scotland, in England, Ireland, other parts of Europe. Let me just tell you about several. Young Patrick Hamilton was Scotland's first martyr. He was only 24 years of age. Parliament in July 1525 had banned the importation of Luther's works into Scotland. In 1528, the Archbishop of St. Andrews summoned Hamilton for a debate. We're going to debate whether the Roman Catholic Church is here or whatever, and whether this Reformation doctrine, we're going to have a debate. It was a trap. And when young Hamilton showed up, he was accused of heresy and a hasty trial took place. A trial in those days normally would take several weeks. His took 12 hours.
#51 | 34:23 to 35:40 | cleaned
He was sentenced to be burned at the stake, and he was. It took six long, excruciating hours for young Hamilton to die. His death intensified the opposition to Roman Catholicism and increased interest in the Reformation. His last words as he was being burned to death were these, "How long, O Lord, shall darkness cover this realm? How long will you suffer the tyranny of men? Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
#52 | 35:42 to 36:22 | cleaned
Twenty-four years of age. George Wishart was another preacher in Scotland. Wishart traveled all through the country proclaiming Reformation doctrines with skill and conviction. It was Cardinal David Baton, who was the Archbishop of St. Andrews, who had five Protestants executed in 1544, and he twice, twice had tried to have George Wishart murdered. That's a churchman now. Twice he tried to have George Wishart murdered. Well, the men in Scotland that believed the truth, in order to try to preserve Wishart's life, they had him move every day to a different location. Since there were so many threats upon his life, there was a bodyguard assigned to him. One of the men that helped guard George Wishart was John Knox, the trumpeter of Scotland. He had a large double-headed broad sword and was part of the bodyguard that went everywhere Wishart went in order to protect him. And when you came to one of Wishart's sermons, you didn't get a mass. You didn't get a mass in Latin.
#53 | 36:23 to 37:50 | cleaned
What you had was congregational singing and at least an hour-long preaching in the English language. I mean, he just preached the Word of God. But in 1536, he believed that his death was imminent. He believed that his arrest was going to be unavoidable. And so, Wishart dismissed his bodyguard. And he said this, "One is sufficient for a sacrifice." I'm willing to die. Wishart was arrested. He was condemned as a heretic.
#54 | 37:51 to 38:33 | cleaned
He was strangled, burned at the stake by order of Cardinal Baton. As the fire was lit, Wishart said this, "This flame has scorched my body, yet it hath not daunted my spirit." And then he's talking about Cardinal Baton. He said, "But he who from yonder high place beholdeth us with such pride shall within a few days lie the same as ignominiously as now he is seen proudly to rest himself."
#55 | 38:35 to 39:14 | cleaned
So let me translate that. Cardinal Baton, you're fixing to die yourself, and it's not going to be for your honor. You're going to die. Obviously, persecutions are going on in Scotland, persecutions are going on in England, persecutions are going on in France, everywhere. But in England, Mary, pretty well known as Bloody Mary, was persecuting anyone and everyone that did not adhere to Roman Catholicism. Mary I, Queen of England and Ireland from 1553 to 1558, restored Roman Catholicism to England and the authority of the Pope. She was known as Bloody Mary because she had at a minimum 300 Protestants burned at the stake for heresy against the Roman Catholic faith.
#56 | 39:15 to 40:13 | cleaned
One of her martyrs was Thomas Cranmer. Thomas Cranmer was an older man, a man of peace, a gentle soul, a warm individual who shunned controversy. He did not like controversy. He had many days of glory, of power, and prominence. Thomas Cranmer was the primate of all England. Let me spell that out for you. He was the Archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas Cranmer was the protector of kings, the trusted friend of queens, he was a loving husband and father, a trusted churchman, and the author of the Book of Common Prayer. Cranmer was arrested in 1556 and thrown into a damp, dark prison.
#57 | 40:16 to 41:19 | cleaned
He was cut off from his friends, he was cut off from his family, he was wracked by grief. He was bombarded by the Roman Catholic bishops and their rhetoric on a daily basis. And he was growing weary and tired. There were only two options that were available to Thomas Cranmer. First, he could assert the truth that he had long preached, that Jesus Christ alone was the head of the church, that the Mass was a Roman Catholic innovation, that purgatory was not found in the Word of God, and that man must be born again. Or second, he could give in to the pressure and retain his position as Archbishop of Canterbury just by signing a piece of paper. The interesting thing is just a few weeks earlier, two of his friends, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, had been burned at the stake. I had been there and stood on the very spot where these men were burned at the stake.
#58 | 41:20 to 42:39 | cleaned
It's now at the edge of a street if they have moved the street. But Cranmer could look out his prison window and see where Latimer and Ridley had been burned at the stake. And now his mind began to play tricks with him. Because he's asking himself, what good did it do for those men to be burned at the stake? Their voices were now silent. They could no longer serve the Lord Jesus. They had no ministry. They had no influence. They were gone.
#59 | 42:42 to 43:23 | cleaned
And he understood that if he persisted in his belief, then that is going to be his lot as well. And to avoid being burned at the stake and to retain his position, all he had to do was to sign that piece of paper and then publicly recant. Cranmer signed the recantation. He sincerely believed in Jesus Christ. He sincerely believed the Word of God. He sincerely believed everything that he had preached. After he signed the paper, there was a relief just for a little while.
#60 | 43:24 to 44:22 | cleaned
And then Matthew 10, verse 33, came roaring into his mind, where our Lord said, "But whosoever shall deny me before man, him also will I deny before my Father who is in heaven." Cranmer had been a peacemaker. He was a gentleman. He was kind-hearted. He did not think that he could take a burning at the stake. He had much rather have died in his own bed in a respectable state. Once he signed that, and Matthew 10:33 began to haunt his mind, he knew he had betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ.
#61 | 44:22 to 45:13 | cleaned
He spent hours alone, weeping, crying, begging for forgiveness. He knew that Peter had denied his Lord three times, and yet the Lord had forgiven him and restored him. And his mind was if he could just take that quill pen and make it suck up that ink, or those words would melt. But they would not and could not. He had signed. And now the bishops had allotted him a day at the big cathedral where he was to publicly recant and deny everything that he had preached. When he got to the cathedral, it was packed.
#62 | 45:17 to 46:13 | cleaned
Many of his followers were there. They were waiting to see if their teacher really denied the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, the bishops were there because they were there to gloat over the fact that they had pressured this man and were persecuting him to the extent that he was going to publicly deny the truth. When it came time for Cranmer to speak, I want you to listen to what he said.
#63 | 46:16 to 46:50 | cleaned
Cranmer said, "I come to the great thing that troubles my conscience more than any other thing that I've ever said or did in my life. And that is the setting abroad of writings contrary to the truth, which here now I renounce and refuse." Wow. So the bishops are sitting there and they're thinking, "We've got him." The people are sitting there and they're thinking, "Oh my, he's going to deny the Lord Jesus Christ." So there was tense, a tense silence on the part of the bishops, on the part of the people.
#64 | 46:53 to 47:39 | cleaned
Every eye was fixed upon him. And Cranmer continued, he said this, "I've written many things untrue. And forasmuch as my hand offended in writing contrary to my heart, therefore my hand shall be first punished. For if I come to the fire, it shall be first burned." He then spread his shoulders and continued, "I refuse him as Christ's enemy and an Antichrist in all his false doctrine, and as for the sacrament..."
#65 | 47:41 to 48:20 | cleaned
And by this time, the bishops began screaming and railing upon him. Like Stephen in Acts 6, they gnashed upon him with their teeth. They took the old man and tied him to a stake and set him on fire. Here is the Archbishop of Canterbury. His wife and children are safely in Germany at this particular point. They did not even find out until weeks later that he was dead. When Cranmer was tied to the stake, the fire was lit. His followers were there. And true to his word, as the fire was kindled and began to leap around him, he purposely took his right hand and held that right hand in the flames and watched the flames dissolve the flesh and the bone until there was nothing left but a stub. And then the old man died saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." That's a conviction.
#66 | 48:20 to 49:40 | cleaned
You may waver because you're human. You may waver because you're weak. But if it's a real conviction, you'll die for it. Little Thomas Bilney, another martyr, was visited by his friends in his cell before he was to be burned at the stake the next day. And his friends found him in a happy mood, had just eaten a big supper. And they asked him, "How can you be so happy knowing that you're going to be burned to death tomorrow?" With that, young Thomas Bilney said, "I no more fear the flame than I fear anything." And he took his finger and held it over the flame of the candle until the candle burned the flesh off his finger and nothing but the bone was exposed. He said, "As my Lord has protected my finger from pain tonight, He'll protect my body from pain tomorrow." And he did so. There is a theology of change which I'm going to show you. And there is a way to change.
#67 | 49:42 to 51:18 | cleaned
But we cannot change because of pleasure or profit, and I would include poverty, nor can we change because of pressure and persecution. We must prepare our heads. We must prepare our hearts. And as the Apostle Paul said, to stand, and having done all, to stand. And we have to remember Matthew 10 and verse 33, where our Lord said, "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven." We cannot, under any circumstance, deny the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, in Thy name we bow to Thee this day.
#68 | 51:19 to 52:15 | cleaned
We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You for the testimony of these men that demonstrate, Lord, what real, genuine conviction is. And help us, Lord, to be men and women of conviction. Help us to see the authority of Your Word and stand on Your truth and for Your truth. Give us grace, Lord, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
#69 | 52:15 to 52:41 | cleaned
In Thy name we pray, Amen.
#70 | 52:42 to 52:43 | cleaned

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T12:24:30Z

The Theology of Change - 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver continues his series on the theology of change by distinguishing between preferences and convictions. He reviews the tests of pleasure and profit, then introduces two additional tests: pressure and persecution. Using biblical examples and historical martyrs, he argues that true convictions, rooted in Scripture, will not change under these pressures, while preferences will. The message emphasizes standing firm on God's Word regardless of external coercion or suffering.

Introduction and Review

Scripture Reading — Malachi 3:6

"For I am the Lord, I change not." "Therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed."

The Test of Pleasure

Pleasure is a test of conviction; those who sacrifice honor, character, or position for pleasure demonstrate preferences, not convictions. Examples include Demas and Moses.

The Test of Profit

Profit tests convictions; compromising for money reveals preferences. Balaam is cited as an example. Poverty is also a test, as it can lead to theft or denial of God.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 11:4

"Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivereth from death."

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 30:8-9

"Remove far from me vanity and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food convenient for me."

Now watch,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 30:8-9

"Lest I be full and deny thee and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain."

Now, I want you to note, if you would please, verse 9,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 30:8-9

"Lest I be full and deny thee."

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 30:8-9

"Lest I be poor and steal."

And I want you to watch this:

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 30:8-9

"and take the name of my God in vain."

The Test of Pressure

Pressure, including coercion, peer disapproval, and slander, reveals whether one holds convictions or preferences. Believers will face reviling and false accusations, but must not capitulate.

Scripture Reading — John 15:18

He said, "Oh, OK, I'm sorry." But see, there's somebody else with another name. But our Lord said, make sure that it's going to be done, you know, falsely. In Luke 21, verse 17, he said, "You shall be hated of all men for my name's sake." And then in John 15, verse 18, he said, "You know, if the world hate you, it hated me before it hated you." Now, I'm telling you all this just to point out the truth. We cannot capitulate. We cannot throw our convictions away due to pressure. We cannot give up the truth that we understand to be true just simply because we desire someone else's approval or peace or the absence of confrontation. I am sure that every one of us have had pressure placed upon us in one way or the other. But I suppose that none of us have ever had the pressure that Martin Luther had upon him when he stood before, and I will say it the way we always said it when I was younger, when he stood before the Diet of Worms. What a horrible diet. Well, actually it was the Diet of Worms. The Diet of Worms, Worms, Germany, the Diet was the Parliament. He was standing before the Parliament of Worms, Germany, and he was facing Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, the Pope, the Cardinals, and all of the high church officials. And they were all demanding that he recant, that he take back everything that he had written concerning the Pope and the church and take back everything that he said truthfully about Christ and the gospel.

The Test of Persecution

Persecution, ranging from mild ostracism to severe martyrdom, is the greatest test of conviction. Scripture and history show that true faith endures even unto death.

Turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 10. Matthew chapter 10. And look, if you would please, at verse 23. Here's a little, I would say, a severer form of persecution. Matthew 10, verse 23. He said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 10:23

"But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another. For verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come."

Now wait a minute.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 10:23

"When they persecute you in this city, flee you to another."

Scripture Reading — Luke 21:12

"But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake."

Historical Examples of Martyrdom

Weaver recounts the martyrdoms of Patrick Hamilton, George Wishart, Thomas Cranmer, and Thomas Bilney to illustrate unwavering conviction under extreme persecution.

And then Matthew 10, verse 33, came roaring into his mind, where our Lord said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 10:33

"But whosoever shall deny me before man, him also will I deny before my Father who is in heaven."

Conclusion and Call to Stand Firm

Weaver concludes that believers must not change their convictions due to pleasure, profit, pressure, or persecution, but must stand on God's Word and not deny Christ.

In Thy name we pray, Amen.

The Theology of Change - 2

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	81318828452
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications
Genre	Sermon
Date	2018-07-29
Dictation Name
Book	Book 111: The Theology of Change — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	70

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the immutability of God from Malachi 3:6 and the distinction between preferences and convictions, noting that preferences are desires that change under circumstances, while convictions are deep-rooted beliefs based on authority, specifically Scripture.
The Test of Pleasure: Pleasure is a test of conviction; those who sacrifice honor, character, or position for pleasure demonstrate preferences, not convictions. Examples include Demas and Moses.
The Test of Profit: Profit tests convictions; compromising for money reveals preferences. Balaam is cited as an example. Poverty is also a test, as it can lead to theft or denial of God.
The Test of Pressure: Pressure, including coercion, peer disapproval, and slander, reveals whether one holds convictions or preferences. Believers will face reviling and false accusations, but must not capitulate.
The Test of Persecution: Persecution, ranging from mild ostracism to severe martyrdom, is the greatest test of conviction. Scripture and history show that true faith endures even unto death.
Historical Examples of Martyrdom: Weaver recounts the martyrdoms of Patrick Hamilton, George Wishart, Thomas Cranmer, and Thomas Bilney to illustrate unwavering conviction under extreme persecution.
Conclusion and Call to Stand Firm: Weaver concludes that believers must not change their convictions due to pleasure, profit, pressure, or persecution, but must stand on God's Word and not deny Christ.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Preferences are changeable; convictions are not.

Preferences can be altered by circumstances, but convictions, rooted in Scripture, remain steadfast.

Weaver says, 'A preference will be easily changed under the right circumstances, but a conviction is not going to be changed.'

Pleasure reveals the absence of conviction.

Those who prioritize pleasure over truth demonstrate they have preferences, not convictions.

Weaver cites Demas: 'Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.'

Profit and poverty both test convictions.

Compromising for money or resorting to theft in poverty shows a lack of conviction.

Weaver references Proverbs 30:8-9: 'Lest I be full and deny thee... Or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.'

Pressure exposes true character.

Circumstances do not create character but reveal it; pressure shows whether one has convictions or preferences.

Weaver states, 'Circumstances never make or break a man, they just reveal him.'

Believers will face slander and reviling.

Scripture warns that Christians will be spoken against falsely, but they must not compromise.

Weaver quotes Matthew 5:11: 'Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.'

Persecution is expected and can be severe.

From ostracism to martyrdom, persecution tests faith; true conviction endures even death.

Weaver cites Hebrews 11:36-38: 'Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings... they were stoned, they were sawn asunder.'

Denying Christ under pressure has eternal consequences.

Matthew 10:33 warns that denying Christ before men leads to denial before the Father.

Weaver quotes: 'But whosoever shall deny me before man, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.'

Historical martyrs exemplify unwavering conviction.

The accounts of Cranmer, Wishart, and others show that true conviction leads to faithfulness unto death.

Weaver describes Cranmer: 'He purposely took his right hand and held that right hand in the flames... And then the old man died saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'

Scripture References

Malachi 3:6: Weaver opens with this verse to establish God's immutability as the foundation for the series.
Titus 1:9: Used to emphasize holding fast to the faithful word as taught, grounding convictions in Scripture.
Proverbs 11:4: Cited to show that riches do not profit in the day of wrath, supporting the test of profit.
Proverbs 11:28: Used to contrast trusting in riches with the flourishing of the righteous.
Revelation 18:7: Referenced to illustrate that great riches come to nothing, reinforcing the test of profit.
Proverbs 30:8-9: Weaver reads this passage to show that both riches and poverty can lead to denial of God or theft, testing convictions.
Psalm 41:5: David's enemies speak evil of him, illustrating the pressure of slander.
Matthew 5:11: Jesus teaches that believers are blessed when reviled and persecuted falsely for His sake.
James 4:11: Believers are forbidden to speak evil of one another, highlighting the sin of slander.
1 Peter 3:10: To love life and see good days, one must refrain from speaking evil.
1 Peter 3:16: Having a good conscience so that those who speak evil of believers may be ashamed.
Luke 21:17: Jesus warns that believers will be hated by all for His name's sake.
John 15:18: The world hated Christ first, so it will hate His followers.
Matthew 10:23: Jesus instructs disciples to flee to another city when persecuted, showing a severer form of persecution.
John 15:20: If they persecuted Christ, they will persecute His followers; persecution stems from hatred of Jesus.
Luke 21:12: Believers will be delivered to synagogues and prisons, brought before rulers for Christ's sake.
Hebrews 11:32-40: The classic passage on persecution, detailing the sufferings of the faithful, including torture, mockings, stoning, and being sawn asunder.
Matthew 10:33: Whoever denies Christ before men will be denied before the Father; this haunted Cranmer after his recantation.

Historical References

Southern Poverty Law Center: Weaver criticizes the SPLC for labeling dissenters as racists and bigots, using it as an example of organizational pressure.
Ron Paul: Mentioned as being labeled a white supremacist by the SPLC, illustrating absurd pressure.
Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms: Luther's stand before Charles V and the Pope, refusing to recant unless convinced by Scripture, exemplifies conviction under pressure.
Andrew Brunson: A pastor imprisoned in Turkey for his faith, used as a modern example of persecution.
Fox's Book of Martyrs: Weaver recommends reading this book for accounts of martyrs, though he notes it cannot list all.
Patrick Hamilton: Scotland's first martyr, burned at the stake at age 24 after a hasty trial for heresy.
George Wishart: Scottish preacher protected by John Knox, eventually strangled and burned; his death intensified Reformation support.
Cardinal David Baton: Archbishop of St. Andrews who orchestrated the executions of Protestants, including Wishart.
John Knox: Served as a bodyguard for George Wishart, later a key figure in the Scottish Reformation.
Bloody Mary (Mary I of England): Queen who restored Roman Catholicism and burned over 300 Protestants, including Thomas Cranmer.

Important Quotes

For I am the Lord, I change not.

Foundation of the series: God's immutability contrasts with human fickleness.

A preference is something that we desire above anything else. It's a choice. It's an estimation of value. It is a like.

Defines preference as a changeable desire.

A conviction is a deep-rooted belief or standard that has been imposed upon us by our authority.

Defines conviction as based on authority, specifically Scripture for Christians.

Circumstances never make or break a man, they just reveal him.

Key principle that tests reveal existing character, not create it.

Unless I am convinced by scriptures and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.

Martin Luther's declaration of conviction under pressure, exemplifying the test of pressure.

I come to the great thing that troubles my conscience more than any other thing that I've ever said or did in my life. And that is the setting abroad of writings contrary to the truth, which here now I renounce and refuse.

Cranmer's public recantation of his recantation, showing the triumph of conviction over persecution.

I've written many things untrue. And forasmuch as my hand offended in writing contrary to my heart, therefore my hand shall be first punished. For if I come to the fire, it shall be first burned.

Cranmer's resolve to punish his offending hand first, demonstrating the depth of his conviction.

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Cranmer's dying words, echoing Stephen, showing ultimate faithfulness.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does understanding the difference between a preference and a conviction affect the way you approach disagreements within the church?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that convictions are based on Scripture, while preferences are personal desires.

[Question]

In what ways have you experienced the test of pleasure or profit in your own life, and how did you respond?

[Context]

Weaver describes how pleasure and profit can cause compromise.

[Question]

How can believers prepare themselves to withstand pressure from organizations or individuals that demand compromise?

[Context]

Weaver discusses pressure from groups like the SPLC and the need to hold fast.

[Question]

What forms of mild persecution (ostracism, shunning, gossip) have you witnessed or experienced, and how should Christians respond biblically?

[Context]

Weaver lists mild forms of persecution and references Matthew 5:11.

[Question]

How does the example of Thomas Cranmer's struggle and eventual martyrdom challenge or encourage you in your own faith?

[Context]

Weaver recounts Cranmer's initial recantation and later repentance and death.

[Question]

Why is it important to remember that persecution stems from the world's hatred of Jesus Christ, not just personal animosity?

[Context]

Weaver explains John 15:20, linking persecution to hatred of Christ.

[Question]

How can the church support members who are facing severe persecution, such as imprisonment or martyrdom?

[Context]

Weaver mentions Andrew Brunson and the biblical warnings of imprisonment.

[Question]

What does Matthew 10:33 teach about the eternal consequences of denying Christ, and how should that shape our daily witness?

[Context]

Weaver highlights this verse as the turning point for Cranmer.

Applications

Format deepseek deepseek-v4-pro structured study JSON | Source Commentary.net transcript enrichment

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T20:38:13Z