Reformation 2005

Introduction

Tomorrow- Halloween- Halloween is a mixture of ancient cultic practices and Christian traditions.

Oct 31st- All Hallows Eve

Time to recall the souls of the damned.

Nov 1st- All Hallows Day or All Saints Day

Time to remember Christians that have died.

Nov 2nd- All Souls Day

Time to pray for- Suffering Church- Purgatory.

Oct 31st is also known as Reformation Day.

Martin Luther- 95 Theses- Oct 31, 1517.

Reformation Day 2005

What were the 95 theses- a challenge to the church concerning the Biblical truth of their doctrines.

When Luther posted- 95 theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany- risked everything for truth.

Because of the religious climate- to challenge the church- you could be considered a heretic- death.

He was ready to lose everything in the natural to bring to the church a clear understanding of the Gospel.

Home, family, money, possessions, career, reputation, his own physical life- willing to risk it all.

Look at the words- A Mighty Fortress Is our God …

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.

Do not need to agree with all of his 95 theses to see the courage in this man’s heart to stand for truth.

How about us? What do we stand for in our lives?

If we do not stand for something, we will fall for everything.

Many believers have already fallen because they have taken no stand for anything in their Christian walk.

Is the Kingdom of God so real, important, to us that we would risk everything to see it advanced?

Martin Luther- not a perfect man, but he saw the eternal/the reality of the Kingdom of God.

Richard Hooker …

Luther was not a person you would want to have dinner with; he was temperamental, peevish, egomaniacal, and argumentative. But this single-mindedness, this enormous self-confidence and strident belief in the rightness of his arguments, allowed him to stand against opposition, indeed, to harden his position in the face of death by fire, the usual punishment for heretics.

Luther- had a singleness of eye- a sense of the eternal.

Lk 9:51 When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; NASU

Jesus was going to Jerusalem because He knew that is where the Father had called Him to go.

He also knew the cost and what laid ahead of Him …

Mtt 16:24-26

Jesus-challenges disciples-do you understand the cost

I am called to sacrifice my life physically for the Kingdom of God, you are called- living sacrifice.

V27 Look at in terms of being punished for bad deeds- what about a lack of zeal for the Kingdom?

Martin Luther- almost martyred several times.

Other reformers were not so fortunate …

William Tyndale, strangled, burned at the stake

What about the men and women of the Bible …

Stephen- stoned to death

James- run through with a sword

Phillip- crucified, Mark- beaten to death

Peter crucified upside down, Paul beheaded

Thomas- killed by a spear, Luke- hanged

Men/women willing to risk all for the sake of the invisible, supernatural, eternal Kingdom of God.

God is assembling- today- an army of believers to serve under the banner of the King of Kings.

He is looking for people willing to risk everything.

Paul expressed it this way …

Phil 3:8 … I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, NASU

Jesus talks about the cost of following Him, the type of people He is looking for …

Lk 9:57-62

Jesus is not looking for the …

half-hearted, the weak, or the

cowardly to follow Him.

He is looking for those who are prepared to give …

everything here to gain everything there,

themselves to- eternal works of God here/NOW

It takes …guts, faith, vision- to go where God is going to call His army to go.

Ezek 37:1-10

In the same way I believe God wants to awaken and raise up His Church as a mighty army today.

The challenges ahead are great, but the insurmountable power of God is even greater.

Jn 16:33 … In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

We live in a day when the world is seemingly filled with increasing disorder and chaos.

Yet in the middle of a world that looks like it is falling apart, God is establishing order in His Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God cannot be shaken.