“And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? ~Zechariah 3:2
Conversations with Satan
There are several occasions when the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to Satan.
The Lord spoke to Satan in eternity past. Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-1
The Lord spoke to Satan in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:14-15
The Lord spoke with Satan during the days of Job. Job 1:6-3:7
The Lord spoke to Satan after the Babylonian Captivity. Zechariah 3:2
The Lord spoke to Satan during His incarnation. Luke 4:1-13
Has the Lord ever spoken to you? Are you a brand plucked out of the fire.
The Rescue of John Wesley
On February 9th, 1709, a memorable fire broke out at the Wesley Rectory in Epworth, England. The fire broke out between eleven and twelve at night, when all the family were in bed. The roof of the corn-chamber was burnt through before any one was aware of the danger. Some of the fire fell upon Hetty Wesley’s bed, in a little room adjoining. She at once ran to call her father, who lay in the fiery chamber. He had heard someone crying “Fire!” in the street a little while before, but did not understand that his own house was in danger. He roused his family and told them to make haste, because the roof was falling fast, and only a thin wall or door kept the flames from the staircase. They had not even time to put on their clothes.
Mr. Wesley, with the nurse and two of the children, got downstairs into the garden; the servants and two others escaped through the window. After three fruitless attempts Mrs. Wesley waded through the fire, which scorched her legs and face.
At last, all were safe save John, then five and a half years old. He had been asleep in the nursery, with three of his sisters, his little brother Charles, and the nurse. When the alarm was given, the nurse snatched up Charles, the youngest child, and bade the rest follow her. John was left in bed fast asleep.
In a few minutes he awoke, and, seeing how light the room was, called to the maid to take him up. As no one answered, he put his head out of the curtains and saw streaks of fire on the ceiling. The child jumped out of bed and went to the door, but found that all beyond was in a blaze. He then climbed on the chest which stood near the window. The Rector tried to rush through the flames, which enveloped the staircase, to rescue his boy; but though he made two attempts, holding his trousers above his head as a kind of shield, the fire beat him down. He then went into the garden; and, calling his family around him, all kneeled whilst he commended the child to God.
A man below, however, had seen John, and would have run for a ladder; but another spectator said there was no time to lose, and suggested that a light man should be set on his shoulders, to lift the little fellow out of the window. The first time the man fell, but he was helped up again, and was thus able to reach the child. Just as they rescued him the whole roof fell in. Fortunately, it fell inwards, or the boy and his brave deliverers would have been crushed by the weight.
John later wrote that he felt that he had been saved for a special purpose, and that he was ‘a brand plucked from the burning’ (John Wesley Center Online).
Has the Lord ever rescued you? Can you sing a song of God’s amazing grace?
“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures.
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine.
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.”
~John Newton
