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THE RELEVANCE OF
THE REFORMATION TODAY!
Chronicles 15:1-19 Text v.8 “and when Asa heard these words.”
The 31st. October each year the Christian Church celebrates Reformation Day,
or at least it should. The 16th. Century Reformation was the greatest
spiritual revival to take place second only to Pentecost, if it had not been
for that Glorious event, we would all be under the bondage of the Church of
Rome. Today many Church Leaders, among them a number of prominent
Evangelicals, tell us the Reformation was a mistake, that we should do all
within our power to restore fellowship with Rome. These men are not only
mistaken in their beliefs but are in truth in danger of falling into the
category of false prophets, the sad thing is that millions are not only
listening to them, but are imbibing their erroneous teaching.
Let us remind ourselves of some of the Great names and cost of the
Reformation. Wickliffe, the Morning Star of the Reformation, Huss, John
Knox, Luther, Calvin, Cranmer, these are names we all know. Let me mention
two, you probably do not know, Thomas Bennet, a school master, who moved to
Exeter. He lived during the reign of Henry VIII. A quiet scholarly man, he
loved the Lord and taught school for the local children. Enjoyed listening
to sermons, not the pitiful half hour sermonettes preachers are expected to
preach today, but two sometimes three hours long. The one thing grieved
Thomas as daily he would go to the Cathedral was the gross idolatry, the
worship of Images, saints and Mary, the lighting of the candles etc. The day
came when he could stand it no more, he stood up to be counted, like Martin
Luther he nailed his Thesis to the doors of Exeter Cathedral, the result was
that the Romish Priests, set of to find him, when they did they burnt him at
the stake, that brave act cost him
In the crowd that watch Thomas burn, was Agnes Prest an illiterate Cornish
woman, and although unable read or write, knew the Bible, she memorized it
and knew that the Romish mass was a blasphemous fable. Returning to
Cornwall, she refused to attend this idolatrous service, was reported to the
authorities by her husband. The long and short of this story is she like
Thomas before her, was incarcerated in the Bishops prison at Exeter, from
whence she was duly taken and burnt at the stake, for her faith in Christ.
It is because of the sacrifice that these men and women made that you and I
are here today, and we forget this at our peril. To ensure that the future
of the Protestant faith was safeguarded in these islands, William of Orange
landed on these shores, yet today we are hearing ever louder the cry to
unite with Rome, to go back to that system of idolatry which enveloped this
land and indeed Europe with superstition and spiritual darkness.
WHOSE SIDE: Question is and we do well not to answer without due
thought and consideration, it is this, “Which side are you on? Are you on
the side of the Reformers, or on the side of those who burnt them? The
liberty we enjoy in this land today, owes a great debt to the men and women
who laid down their lives for Christ at the time of the Reformation. There
is a real danger of that liberty being lost, by once again placing oneself
under the yoke of Rome. With this in mind let us turn our thoughts to the
Reformation to the Scripture passage.
Asa was a king of mixed fortunes; he inherited a kingdom that had
degenerated into gross sin and idolatry. He himself was a god fearing soul,
a man described as one “Which did right in the eyes of the Lord,”
2Chron.14:2. He sought to lead the people back to the ways of God, but
reform was not easy, it took two attempts. The first is recorded in Ch.14.
despite the good work accomplished, it seemed to be a rather superficial, it
was the work of man rather than of God, but it showed his heart was in the
right place, full Reform came only when God intervened. Asa under the
leading of Azariah and the Word of God was in reality a Protestant, he saw
that there was a better way and he led his people into it. Luther saw the
same, and by the grace of God helped led the people into it and the 16th.
Century Reformation was born. Many attempts at Reforming the Church had been
made before, many of the monastic orders came into being for that purpose,
but despite their good intentions the Lord was not in them, and they were
soon swallowed up in the religious system. When God intervened, in
enlightening and convicting power that Reformation began, let us consider:-
1: THE COMMENCEMENT OF ASA’S REFORMATION: Look at Ch.15:8, here it
the clue to true Reformation “And when Asa heard these words...he took
Courage.” What was it Asa heard? “The prophecy of Azariah.” What was this?
It was nothing short of the Word of God. Asa’s second attempt at Reformation
succeeded because it was motivated by the Word of God. Now although his
first attempt at Reformation was good, the source of his motivation was
suspect, and he soon ran out of steam, he became absorbed in other matters,
the first attempt lacked the inspiration, the zeal and commitment needed.
True Reform needs deep conviction, a consistent and persistent effort along
with a good dose of Courage. True Reformation is based upon the Word of God,
upon the full authority of God and nothing less. The 16th. Century
Reformation succeeded where all other efforts had failed because of this
great truth. One of the five great pillars of the Reformation was that of
Sola Scriptura, Scripture alone.
This fact is very relevant today, for there is a very strong tendency to
turn away from Scripture, even in so called Reformed Churches. The great
principle of the Reformation was that Scripture alone be the sole Rule of
Faith and Practice, today the tendency is towards Pragmatism, if it appears
to work then it is O.K. it does not matter that the principles may run in
the face of Scripture. One of the greatest follies of this is to be found in
modern evangelism, where almost anything goes, from clowns performing on the
platform, to girls dancing in the aisles accompanied by music which to say
the very least is of doubtful origin.
Another area where this is to found is in
that of Ecumenism, no good Reformed person would even countenance engaging
in such a thing. Oh No, which is the most subtle form of Ecumenism today? We
all know about the World Council of Churches, we all know about the
Ecumenical Evangelism practiced by modern popular evangelists, we are all
aware of the entertainment and celebration brand employed by others. The
fact is all of these movements in one way or another are friends of those
who burnt the Reformers at the stake.
But there is one more very subtle group, that is aimed at men, it is an
import from the USA and is called “Promise Keepers,” This group embraces all
men, Christian and none Christian, it has the blessing of the Church of
Anti-Christ, as well as the Mormon Church, the Charismatic Church and the
New Evangelical Church and any other group or cult that sees fit to join..
We have our own home grown heresy, growing in popularity; it is called
“Alpha”. This movement is very tantalizing for it seems to offer a short cut
to fill church pews, but it is dangerous, it is a system that encourages
fellowship with error, the reason is that in the main the teaching of Alpha
is erroneous, and sympathetic to Rome. I put it to you, if one is prepared
to hold hands with and fellowship with such a mixed multitude, then he is
not a friend of the Reformers, for the Reformers were prepared to die rather
than compromise the Word of God, and the Word of God calls upon all godly
men and women to separate themselves from such things. Let us be quite clear
on this point, these things are all headed back to Rome and the Church of
the anti-Christ.
2: THE COURAGE OF THE REFORMATION: v.8 “And when Asa heard these
words..... He took courage.” We should not ignore the fact that his
first attempts at Reform took Courage, but raw courage being very much a
thing of the flesh, is subject to the weaknesses of the flesh, and is of
itself insufficient to maintain a true course. Raw courage is subject to the
feelings, climate, fluctuations and pressures of the, god “Public Opinion.”
She has the effect of dissuading the would be Reformer from his course, and
into the proverbial U-turn. This is seen daily in the field of politics,
religion men who do not have the courage of their convictions, but can be
persuaded to change their minds by a few concessions and promises etc.
However when courage is based upon the Word of God, that man that woman is
not For Turning. It was because Martin Luther’s faith was based upon the
Word of God that he was able to declare “Here I stand I can do no other,” a
courage that inspired many of the Reformers, and courageous ladies like
Agnes Prest, did she not say “Here I stand I can do not other,” she refused
the mass and burnt for her troubles. When Courage is derived from the Word
of God, nothing but nothing can stand before the saint or deter him from his
course.
Is this relevant today? After all the reformation of Asa was over 3000 years
ago, and the 16th. Century Reformation took place some 400 years ago, is not
this outdated and irrelevant? Many would like to think so, but the answer is
a very dogmatic `Yes’ these things are very relevant to us today. The
Counter Reformation launch by the Church of Rome, in the 16th century, whose
design was bring back into the fold the Protestant Churches, and to-date
this has been very successful, this nation is well on its way back to the
darkness and superstition that prevailed before the Reformation. It will
however be the application of these principles that will save us from that
terrible plight.
It is interesting to take a look at the conditions that prevailed before
Asa’s Reformation, we begin in 2 Chronicles Ch.12:1 and those telling words
“He forsook the Law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.” Rehoboam was on
the throne, for 17 years he ruled, and was followed by his son who was also
ungodly, these men turned their backs on the Law of God, ruled according to
their own ideas, and they rejected God’s Word. Once a nation forsakes the
Law of the Lord it is in trouble, deep trouble, once a Church does the same
thing, one can expect serious repercussions. We are unfair in saying that
the leaders of this nation for the past twenty or so years have been doing
just that, replacing the Law of the land, which is based on the Word of God,
with the ungodly laws of the European Community, which is controlled by a
pagan orientated legislative system. Have not the leaders of the Church,
been replacing the law of the Lord with their own ideas, fancies and gross
misinterpretations of scripture?
Yes today we are doing the same as Rehoboam, the divine laws, laws designed
to govern the Church are being openly violated, we have women ministers,
women elders, paganism is being encouraged and accepted in the form of
multifaith worship, I was sickened to my stomach several years ago when in
the United States, to see men who claimed to be ministers of the Gospel,
standing shoulder to shoulder with men of Islam, Roman Catholicism and other
equally ungodly religions, at the so called Million Men March, and using
Scripture to justify their stance.
Look at the laws of this great nation, laws which were once based upon the
Word of God, they are being changed to accommodate the base ideas and
desires of atheistic humanism. Our law being replaced by the European
Commission, who follow a law making system that has its origins in paganism.
All forms of ungodly practices are now advocated that are forbidden by the
Word of God, because the leaders of the nation have “Forsaken the Law of
Lord.” Immorality flourishes, Sodomy prospers, Corruption is Rampant, Murder
is unshackled and virtually every town and city has its legalized murder
clinic, millions of unborn babies have death contracts placed on them every
year by uncaring, selfish ungodly parents, all of which is sanctioned by the
Government, yet to execute a murder causes a hypocritical cry of protest.
Today child sacrifice is just a fashionable as it was before the Reforms of
Asa, as are other forms of idolatry, including that of the Blasphemous Mass,
and the worship of the goddess Mary, another name for the pagan goddess
Aphrodite, or Venus, or Diana. So we could on, the need of the hour is for
men of Asa’s qualities, men of the Word, men of Courage, to take a clear and
unequivocal stand against these abominations, courage founded in the Word of
God, it was when “Asa heard these words....he took Courage.” It was men of
the 16th. Century heard the Word of God that they took Courage, and stood
for those things that were Righteous, Honest and True, they would not
compromise the Word of God, by fellowshipping with the ungodly
3: WHY DOES GODS WORD INSPIRE COURAGE? This is a good question, and
there maybe a number of answers, but one is very simple, it does so because
God warns His people of the consequences that will follow if Reforms do not
take place. Let us consider just one, the Bible warns of the:-
DANGER OF GODLESSNESS: The Spirit of God points to the condition of
Israel the Northern kingdom, using them as an example of what would befall
Judah if she continued on her present idolatrous path, look at v.3. “Now for
a long season Israel hath been without the true God.” Idolatry leads to
godlessness. This should come as no surprise when one considers that
Idolatry is the re-imaging of God into the image that man wants him to be,
“Changing the glory of God into an image made like corruptible man.” This
was the problem with Israel right from the very start; Jeroboam who became
king of Israel at the time of the division of the kingdom, made two calves
of gold, his own representation of God and called upon his people to worship
them, that nation became godless.
Prior to the 16th century reformation, the same thing was happening wherever
to the Church of Rome was in control and that was virtually all over Europe,
the god whom she encouraged the people to worship was an idolatrous god, one
that they had re-imaged into their own likeness, a god of superstition, a
god of man made rites and ordinances, a god that the priests could
manipulate and control, a god that was far removed from the Almighty God of
the Holy Bible. It was then that God raised up mighty men who by His power
caused the people to return to Him, to come back to the God of the Bible,
that is Reformation, and we are here today because of that. Reformation is a
return to God, therefore we can correctly define reformation by saying that
it is repentance, for repentance is first and foremost a turning again to
God.
Yet our nation is in grave danger falling back into re-reformation darkness,
and the reason is again idolatry, worshipping Almighty God, according to a
man made image of Him, we see it all about us, today professing Christians
want a god of their own making:
A god that bless and make him happy even though he may live in disobedience
to His Word, he worships a god that is made up of his own ideas as to what
should be like in his imagination.
A god who maintains a heaven but will not send a soul to hell.
A god who gives life but will not allow him the power of the resurrection.
A god who is powerful but not powerful enough to cause a Virgin to conceive.
A god who turns a blind eye to the murder of millions of innocents.
A god who allows his Day to be turned into just another.
A god who winks His eye at adultery at living together at homosexuality and
so on.
A god who allows His people to live in sin and who allows them to fellowship
with unbelievers, to join hands with the ungodly, rather than commanding
them to be separate, false unbiblical unity is rampant today, it comes in
various shapes and sizes. The list of idolatry is endless.
Today the god of the nation is that god which man imagines in his own heart
and mind and that makes for a godless nation and a godless church. I put it
to you the great need of the Church and of the Nation today is for
Reformation a Return to the one and True Living God, the God of the Bible
the rejection of the god’s man has made and worships.
Asa took Courage when He understood the dire consequences that would follow
if Reformation did not take place. Other things that would have caused him
great concern, were for example Israel, who where without a “Teaching
Priest,” they had nobody to instruct them in the ways of Truth and
Righteousness, that is a consequence of Idolatry and a fearful thing, for it
allows men to do “That which seemeth right in their own eyes.” Where today
are the teaching priests of the nation? If we have any the people are not
listening to them, because men are doing their own thing. Friends the Word
of God inspired Asa’s into courageous action because he knew of the terrible
consequences that would come on his people if Reforms, godly Reforms did not
take place. May God open our eyes to this danger?
4: THE WORK OF REFORMATION: v.8 “He took Courage and put away the
abominable idols out of all the land.” The extent of this Reformation went
far beyond the breaking of a few idols, Asa got right down the grass roots
of the problem, the idolatry had degenerated, as does all idolatry, into
gross immorality and sexual perversions, in 1 Kings Ch.15:12 we learn that
“He took the Sodomites out of the land.” Our political as well as
spiritual leaders need to take note of this, rather than sucking up to these
people, rather than granting them positions of authority he should be taking
action against this abomination and the Church leaders should be showing
these people the great abomination that this ungodly lifestyle is before a
holy and just God. Asa did not recognize the “Gay Rights Movement”, he did
not legislate in their favour, he did not organize a special church for
them, he did not give them credence of any sort, he sent them packing, he
did not cosset them. He took them, their idols and cleaned out the land, and
that took courage, great courage. He even removed his mother-in-law, and if
that does not take courage I do not know what courage is.
He then brought back into Gods houses v.18 “The things that his father had
dedicated, silver and gold and vessels.” The term “father” as used here
probably refers to Solomon rather than to Abijah, but it is the principle
that is of importance to us as we close, and that is the House of God was
furnished once again with the things dedicated to God, the very things of
God.
This was the very thing that took place at the time of the 16th century
Reformation,
Firstly: The “Word of God” was returned to the Church, Sola Scriptura.
Secondly: The Lord Jesus Christ was again placed in His rightful
position in the Church. As the Head of the Church Sola Christus.
Thirdly: The great doctrines of Grace that had been the corner stone
of the True Church, but which had been replaced by the superstition and
blasphemy of Roman dogmas, were re-instituted in the House of God Sola
Gratia,
Fourthly: The wonder of God’s glory, majesty and power were again
restored to the Church Deo Gloria.
Fifthly: The truth that the Just shall live by faith was also brought
back to its rightful place Sola Fidelis. At the time of the Reformation, the
spiritual house of God was once again furnished with the things of God.
Today, even in professing Reformed Churches these great principles which
were brought back to Gods People in the 16th century are being neglected,
yet these are the vessels of Gold and Silver, things that need to be brought
back again, we need so desperately in our land, men of the Book, men
inspired and called by God, men of courage, men who fear God rather than men
So let me ask again that question presented a few minutes ago, “Whose side
are you on, on that of the Reformers or on the side of those that burned
them?
Peter J Gadsden
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