DAY 26

MORNING

PSALM 119:105–144

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet.”

Open-air evangelism unto the Nations

Throughout his lifetime, Wesley travelled up and down the British Isles by horse, by carriage and by foot. Open- air evangelism may have been unfamiliar to his contemporaries in the 18th century, and was resisted by the religious authorities of his day, but pedestrian evangelism in England had many precedents.179

There was no alternative but to preach
ing in the open-air for the church originally. In England the church was probably planted through Roman soldiers but there would 
not have been many buildings. In the fifth century Ninian and Patrick and then in the sixth century Colomba would have preached in the open air. Paulinus and Aidan would have preached in the open in Northumbria when it was converted. In the 13th century the friars also used outdoor preaching, and itinerant preachers brought the truths of the Reformation to our land. They would go to wherever they might be heard and this was more often on the village green or by the road than in the local churches. George Fox and the Quakers used the same approach too. Wesley was in good company. Wesley followed a triangular path, from London to Bristol and to Newcastle, which also was his place of retreat and rest. He also travelled to Wales in 1739 and Scotland in 1751. As he began to travel all over the world, leading people to Christ was his sole desire. He wrote: “wherever I see one or a thousand men running into hell, be it in England, Ireland, or France yea, in Europe, Asia, Africa, or America, I will stop them if I can; as a minister of Christ, I will beseech them in his name to turn back and be reconciled to God. Were I to do otherwise, were I to let any soul drop into the pit, whom I might have saved from everlasting burnings, I am not satisfied God would accept my plea, ‘Lord, he was not of my parish.’”180

Prayer

We pray for our nation, that it would be reconciled to God. Thank you for the history of your word being preached in the open air across our country. Let your word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, as we continue to take the Gospel across the length and breadth of our land. Give us your heart for the lost, that we would have a greater urgency to share our faith, a greater fear of God and a greater desire to carry the flame of the Gospel wherever we go. Do not let the candle go out on our watch, Lord, let it burn even more brightly, we pray.

179 Skevington-Wood, A. The burning heart, 107, 108, 113.

180 Wesley, J. Letters, To John Smith, Vol 2, 137.

DAY 26

EVENING

PSALM 119:145–176

Psalm 119:166 “I wait for your salvation, O Lord.”

Salvation by Faith

Summary of sermon preached by John Wesley181

All the blessings which God has bestowed upon man are undeserved favour. I begin by asking so that we do not fall short of this grace, this undeserved favour ... what is this faith through which we are saved? My answer — IT IS NOT the faith
 of a heathen, IT IS NOT the faith of the devil and IT IS NOT the faith of the apostles when Christ was with them. Christian faith is NOT ONLY an assent to the whole gospel of Christ, BUT ALSO a full reliance on the blood of Christ to trust in the merits of his life, death and resurrection, as given for us and living in us — IT IS our salvation — a present salvation ... from sin ... from the guilt of all past sin ... and consequently you are saved from fear ... and from the power of sin ...

BUT YOU MAY OBJECT...Doesn’t preaching this “salvation by faith” lead men into pride? 
I answer, “we should be cautioned”, but it should not lead to pride, because salvation is a free undeserved gift of God.

BUT YOU SAY ... Doesn’t preaching this “salvation by faith” drive men to despair that they cannot be saved by all that he can do?
 I answer “yes” and “so it ought — despair of being saved by their own works, their own merits or righteousness.”

BUT YOU SAY ... isn’t preaching this “salvation by faith” an uncomfortable doctrine. I say “it is the only comfortable one”. Here is comfort high as heaven, stronger than death. What mercy this is for us all — yes for Zaccheus a public robber, yes for Mary Magdalene a common harlot.

I think I hear you say “... then I even I may hope for mercy”. And so you may afflicted one, whom none has comforted! God has not cast out your prayer. Never was this doctrine more in season than it is today. Nothing but this can prevent the immorality that has overspread the land like a flood. Can you empty the
 great deep drop by drop? You may get rid of particular sins, but the righteousness which 
is by faith will “stay” the proud waves of immorality. Nothing but this can stop the mouths of those that openly deny the Lord. Surely this is the case, salvation by 
faith is a strong and firm foundation of the Christian religion — these objections are completely unfounded — as you stand on this firm foundation though you be as weak and helpless as an infant, the strongman shall not be able to stand before you. You will prevail over him, and subdue him under your feet.

Prayer

Thank you that we have been saved by faith in you, Lord Jesus. We have been saved from the guilt of all past sin and we have been saved from fear and the power of sin. Come and build your house, Lord Jesus, and let this strong and firm foundation not be moved.

181 Wesley. J. Volume 5, 7–16