history revisited - a global church council

Histor y Revis i ted

by Dr. Peter Hammond

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever

present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

1: A mighty fortress is our God,

a bulwark never failing;

Our helper He amid the flood,

of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe,

doth seek to work us woe;

his craft and pow’r are great,

and armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

A Mighty Fortress is our God

2: Did we in our own strength confide;

our striving would be losing;

Were not the right man on our side,

the man of God’s own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is He,

Lord Sabaoth His Name,

from age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

3: And though this world with devils filled,

should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for God hath willed,

His truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim,

we tremble not for him;

his rage we can endure,

for lo! his doom is sure;

One little word shall fell him.

4:That Word above all earthly pow’rs,

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.

Histor y Revis i ted

by Dr. Peter Hammond

“Choose for yourselves this day Whom you will serve … but as for me and my house, we will serve

the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

The Cross road o f

Decis ion

The Reformation was a defining moment ,when the Christian convictions and courage of Reformers met the crossroads of decision

and engaged the battle fields of belief and behaviour.

“If I had a place to stand, I could move the world.”

The Greek engineer

Archimedes was referring to

the wonders of the lever. In principle,

the capacity of a lever was unlimited.

Archimedes

An ordinary weakling could

move a rock the size of a house.

All that he would need would be a

fulcrum,

a pole strong enough so that it would not break,

and long enough to multiply the force.

That, and a place to stand.

The Fulc r um

The force multiplying physics of the lever are a function of distance. The heavier the object, or the weaker the person trying to move it,

the longer the pole would need to be, and the further away from it you would have to stand.

However, with the right fulcrum,

the right bar and the right distance,

all you would need to do would be to push

the lever down, and the boulder,

no matter how heavy it was, would move.

To Move the Wor ld

Theoretically, Archimedes famously declared, with the right fulcrum, bar and distance, you could put a lever to planet Earth and move the

world itself. As long as you had a place to stand!

On 18 April 1521, a 37-year old Professor from the University of Wittenberg found himself hauled

in front of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

A Def in ing Moment

Standing before the assembled political and spiritual authorities of his day, Luther was presented with a simple choice: Will you recant, and

reject everything you have been teaching about the Gospel?

Or will you be cast out of the church as a heretic, and out of the state as a traitor, to be burned at the stake?

Courage and Convic t ion

Martin Luther’s reply moved the world. He changed history. Because he had a place to stand. Dr. Martin Luther declared:

“My conscience is captive to the Word of God. Here I stand!”

Our Lord Jesus declared that our Faith would be able to move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Martin Luther’s Faith moved the world because he had a place to stand.

He stood on the Word of God. The fulcrum he used was the Gospel.

This was balanced on the bar of the Law of God.

To Move The Wor ld

Dr. Martin Luther actually fulfilled what the Greek engineer Archimedes had hypothisized about.

Standing on the Word of God, using the bar

of the Law of God and the fulcrum of the Gospel,

Martin Luther’s Faith

not only moved mountains,

it changed the world.

It brought to an end the Middle Ages, and ushered in the modern world.

The Protestant Reformation, and the resultant Scientific Revolution and Industrial Revolution, produced the most productive, prosperous

and free nations in the history of the world.

All this because Luther had a place to stand, and he made his stand

on the unchangeable Word of Almighty God.

Decis ive Act ion

These decisive actions were blessed by God with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which made the Protestant Reformation one of

the greatest movements for

Faith and freedom in history.

Confront ing Cor r upt ion

Dr. Martin Luther’s actions were described as that of another Elijah – confronting the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.

Indeed, there were many similarities between the religious superstition and corruption confronted by Martin Luther in the 16th Century

and the national apostasy of Israel confronted by the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 18.

A Cal l fo r

Commitment

It was a defining moment when conviction and

courage confronted corruption and

cowardice.

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘how long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God follow Him, but if Baal is god,

follow him’. But the people answered him not a word.” 1 Kings 18:21

Agains t Al l

Odds

Elijah stood alone against the

450 prophets of Baal and the

400 prophets of Asherah.

Elijah challenged them to a contest.

Those 850 false prophets were to build their altar,

and Elijah would build his altar. Each would pray.

The one who answered with fire,

he would be recognised as the one true God.

Cowardice

“But the people answered him not a word.” Sometimes silence is golden, other times it is just plain yellow.

A Deafen ing S i l ence

The people of Israel were so backslidden and apostate that they just nailed their colours to the fence. They didn’t say a word.

They remained uncommitted, waiting to see how things turned out. They would surely back the winner. They are waiting to see which way the wind blew… and on which altar the fire fell.

The

Fut i l i ty

of Fa l se

Rel ig ions

As there were far more prophets of Baal and

Asherah, they started first.

From morning until noon the false prophets called out to the name of Baal.

They leapt about.

There was much shouting and screaming, songs and

dances, even cutting themselves with knives. They worked themselves

into a frenzy, but there was no answer.

No fire. After several hours of

futility the false prophets had exhausted themselves.

Repai r ing the Al tar

“Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come near to me’. So all the people came near to him and he repaired the altar of the Lord

that was broken down.” 1 Kings 18:30

Sol id Foundat ions

Elijah first laid down the stones. This is symbolic of the foundational doctrines which we must all know.

However, the stones were not enough.

The Wood o f Fa i th

It is not enough to know the great truths of the Scripture, we must believe them. This is symbolised by the wood that was laid on the altar.

For, to lay the wood indicated faith that the fire would fall.

We must not only know the truth in our head, we must believe the truth in our hearts.

Put t ing F lesh to our Fa i th

On top of the stones and wood, Elijah placed the meat of the sacrifice. We need to put flesh to our Faith. We need to put feet to our Faith.

It is not enough to know the truth in our head, and to believe the truth in our heart, we need to live the truth in our life.

Living Water

Over the sacrifice, the wood and the stones, Elijah had water poured until it saturated the sacrifice, the wood and filled the trench around the altar. This symbolises the prayer with which we should soak our

lives, faith and doctrines.

The F i re o f God

“And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘Lord God of Abraham, Isaac

and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your Word.

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts

back to You again’.

Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust and it licked up the water

that was in the trench.

Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their

faces; and they said,

‘The Lord, He is God! The Lord,

He is God!’.” 1 Kings 18:36-39

Boldness

There is a time to stand up, a time to step out, and a time to speak up. This is what Elijah did at Mount Carmel

when he confronted the false prophets of Baal.

Although heavily outnumbered, and opposed by the wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, Elijah had the conviction

and courage to fight the good fight of Faith.

Two Foundat ions

There were two altars, but only one had the fire. Jesus spoke of two men who built two houses on two different foundations.

But the one house was built upon the sand and when the rain fell and the winds blew and the floods rose, that house built on the sand

collapsed. However, the house built upon the solid rock stood firm.

Two Ways

There are two ways, the broad way that leads to destruction, and the narrow way that leads to life.

The broad way is smooth, easy, downhill and popular. The narrow way that leads

to life is steep, difficult, often rough and lonely.

However, we should not choose a road by how comfortable and easy it is, but by whether it is going in the right direction

to get us where we need to go.

W h i c h ro a d a r e yo u o n ?

O n w h at fo u n d at i o n a r e yo u b u i l d i n g yo u r l i fe ?

The Fr u i t o f the Sp i r i t

Jesus said that we would know a tree by its fruit. What is the fruit of your life? Is it the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? (Galatians 5:22-23)

The Fr u i t o f the F lesh

Or is it the fruit of the flesh: “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies,

outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries and the like; of which …

those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21

Are You For Chr i s t o r

Agains t Him?

Jesus said: “You are either with Me, or against Me. You are either gathering, or scattering.

If you confess Me before men, I will confess you before My Father, who is in Heaven, but if you deny Me before men,

I will deny you before the Father and the Holy Angels.”

Making a S tand

Despite the social pressures, the political dangers and ecclesiastical pressure Elijah stood up, stepped out and spoke out for Almighty God.

He confessed the Lord before men, and God most powerfully answered his prayer.

We were then informed that it was 31 October, Reformation Day.

The village was celebrating the Reformation. School children had

made out posters with sketches of the great Reformers: Dr.

Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, William Tyndale, John Knox and John Calvin.

John Wycl i f f e

In the Reformation, bold believers made a courageous stand for righteousness and truth. Professor John Wycliffe, of Oxford University,

spoke out against the superstitions and corruptions of the Roman Catholic church.

Wycliffe proclaimed: Christ alone is the Head of the Church ;

Scripture contains everything necessary for our Salvation, and

all authorities must be tested by the Scripture.

Jan Hus

Professor Jan Hus gave his life standing up for the truth of God’s Word against papal idolatry.

Savonaro la

Jerome Savonarola was burned at the stake in Florence for his brave attempts at Reform.

Mar t in Luther

Dr. Martin Luther boldly confessed his faith before the assembled might of the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire.

“Unless I am convinced by Scripture, or by clear reasoning, that I am in error – for popes and councils have often erred and contradicted

themselves – I cannot recant, for I am subject to the Scriptures I have

quoted; my conscience is captive to the Word of God.

It is unsafe and dangerous to do anything against one’s conscience.

Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. So help me God. Amen.”

Vision

The Reformation was inspired by a great vision. “Without a vision a people perish.”

What is your vision?

Purpose

What are you living for? Reformers, like Dr. Martin Luther, were living for a vision far bigger

than themselves, far bigger than their times and their nations.

Their vision continues to impact

and bless the world, even hundreds of years

after their life.

Who Wil l R ise Up?

The Word of God declares: “Who will rise up for Me against the wicked? Who will make a stand up for Me against the

workers of iniquity?” Psalm 94:16

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest

exposition every portion of the truth of God,

except precisely that point which the world and the devil are

at that moment attacking, then I am not confessing Christ,

however boldly I may be professing Him.

Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the

soldier is proved;

and to be steady on all the battle front

besides is mere flight and disgrace if he

flinches at that point.”

Martin Luther

David

aga ins t

Gol ia th

The young shepherd boy, David, although he was the

youngest and the least, he rose up and made a

stand against the blaspheming Philistine

giant Goliath:

“You come to me with a sword, with a spear,

and with a javelin, but I come to you in

the Name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel,

Whom you have defied.”

1 Samuel 17:45

Chris t ian Courage

In many ways the Reformation was a David against Goliath campaign. Courageous Reformers challenged the political and ecclesiastical

authorities who had abused their powers and distorted the Scriptures.

Martin Luther nailed his 95 arguments against papal indulgences to the door of the Castle Church. He burned the papal bull publically

in Wittenberg. He stood firm before the emperor and refused to back down from his Scriptural position.

Nathan be fore the King

Nathan the prophet had the courage to confront the King:

“You are the man!” 2 Samuel 12:7

John Knox

Scottish Reformer, John Knox, confronted the wicked Mary, Queen of Scots, in the same spirit as the prophet Nathan.

John Knox described Mary, Queen of Scots, as “a traitoress and rebel against God.” The Queen declared, trembling and in tears, that she was

more afraid of the Prayers of John Knox than of an army of 10,000.

D a n i e l ’ s

S t e a d f a s t n e s s

Daniel courageously stood firm under 3

pagan kings. Exiled from his own land in childhood,

Daniel is an example of steadfast integrity.

He served in the governments of

Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar in Babylon and under King Darius of the Medo-Persian Empire.

Yet, without compromise. He refused the meat offered to idols, from the king’s table. He courageously confronted Belshazzar over his

blasphemous abuse of the elements, from the Temple in Jerusalem at a Babylonian banquet: “You have been weighed in the balances,

and found wanting!” Daniel 5:27.

When commanded to only pray to the king, Daniel continued to faithfully pray to the Lord God Almighty.

For this he was thrown into the lions’ den.

Luther and Zwing l i

Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli stand out as courageous and principled Daniel’s standing firm and faithfully expounding the Scriptures

amidst many threats and dangers.

Jo h n t h e B a p t i s t a n d Ja n H u s

As John the Baptist courageously preached against sin and confronted corruption and hypocrisy, even losing his own head for opposing and

exposing the wickedness of King Herod, Professor Jan Hus stands out in the same spirit, and with the same courage.

Standing in the Gap

The Word of the Lord declares: “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and

stand in the gap before Me, on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it …” Ezekiel 22:30

A r e yo u s t a n d i n g

i n t h e ga p a n d

i n te rc e d i n g o n b e h a l f

o f t h e l a n d ?

A r e y o u h e l p i n g t o r e b u i l d t h e w a l l ?

A r e yo u i m p a c t i n g yo u r w o r l d fo r C h r i s t ?

Reformation Day 31 October 1517

Ecclesia

Reformata

Reformanda Est

(The Church,

having been

Reformed, is

still to be

Reformed).

The Church is called to be "a house of prayer for all nations."

Repentance

God now commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).

“If My people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

Have you humbled yourself?

Are you praying?

Are you seeking

His face?

Are you turning from your wicked ways?

I heard the voice of the Lord saying:

“Whom shall I send and who will go for us?’ Then I said: ‘Here I am! Send Me!’ Isaiah 6:8

The Great Commiss ion

“And Jesus came and spoke to them saying: ‘All authority has been given to Me on Heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the

Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,

even to the end of the age. Amen’.” Matthew 28:18-20

What does God want you to do ?

Today? This week? This month? Next year?

Decis ions

Every day there are decisions we need to make, temptations we need to resist, challenges to face,

opportunities to seize, battles to win,

Scriptural commands we need to obey. Every decision we make makes us more a

creature of Heaven, or hell.

Choices

Every choice we make sets us further down the broad way to destruction, or the narrow way to life.

There are many defining moments which we need to respond to with

courage and conviction, determination and decisiveness.

However, we sometimes come across major defining moments on which far more than even our own eternal destinies depend.

On such occasions we need to respond with the vision, courage, dedication and determination

of the prophets and Reformers of old.

W h e n t h e t i m e c o m e s f o r y o u t o s t a n d u p , s t a n d u p b o l d l y .

When the t ime comes for you to step out , step out in Fa i th .

W h e n t h e t i m e c o m e s w h e n y o u m u s t s p e a k u p ,

s p e a k c o u r a g e o u s l y

a n d w i t h C h r i s t i a n c o n v i c t i o n t h e t r u t h s

o f t h e H o l y S c r i p t u r e s .

Is your conscience captive to the Word of God?

Is your desire to

obey God

promptly and

sincerely with

your whole heart

aflame in the

hand of God?

We need

doctrinal steel

in our backbones and

Holy Spirit fire

in our hearts.

May the Lord

fill us, and

empower us,

with His Holy

Spirit - to be

faithful to His

Word and

effective in His

service.

May God find us

faithful to His

Word and

effective in His

service as we

work for Biblical

Reformation and

pray for Spiritual

Revival.

“Know therefore

that the Lord your

God is God; He is

the Faithful God,

keeping His

Covenant of love

to a thousand

generations of

those who love

Him and keep His

commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9

“Choose for yourselves this day Whom you will serve … but as for me and my house, we will serve

the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

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