Martin Luther saw miraculous answers to prayer and experienced
courage in the most excruciating situations that can only be explained as a
manifestation of the gift of faith, as mentioned in I Corinthians 12:9. This
gift of faith is not the faith for salvation, nor the faith by which we live out
our daily lives. It is, rather, a supernatural manifestation of God’s own faith
in our heart for a particular situation.
Faith for Healing
An example of such faith in the life of Luther occurred
when he received
word that his friend and colleague, Frederick Myconius, lay dying in the last
stages of tuberculosis. When Luther read this report, a supernatural and bold
faith rose up in his heart. He then penned a letter to Myconius in which he said,
I
command you in the Name of God to live because I still have need of you in the
work of reforming the Church. The Lord will never let me hear that you are dead
but will permit you to survive me. For this I am praying, this is my will, and
may my will be done because I seek only to gAlorify the Name of God.
Myconius
said that when he read the letter it seemed as though he heard Christ say,
“Lazarus, come forth!” Luther’s words were fulfilled. Myconius was healed and
outlived Luther by two months.
On another occasion, Luther’s close friend and
colleague, Philip Melanchthon, became extremely ill and was at death’s door.
Luther is said to have fervently prayed, using all the relevant promises he
could repeat from Scripture. As he prayed, a supernatural faith rose up in his heart. He then turned, and taking Melanchthon by the hand, said, “Be
of good courage, Philip, you shall not die.”
Melanchthon immediately revived and soon regained his
health. He later said, “I should have been a dead man had I not been recalled
from death itself by the coming of Luther.”
Faith to Face a
Thousand Goliaths
When
Luther stood before the tribunal at his trial for heresy in the city of Worms,
it was a setting that would strike fear into any heart. There sat the emperor in all his royal dress
and entourage and around the room were bishops, cardinals, personal delegates
of the pope, dukes, princes and counts, all in their splendid garb and titles.
The historian, Philip Schaff, called it “a fair representation of the highest
powers in Church and State—a numerous array of dignitaries of every rank.”
They
were there to demand that this insignificant monk, Martin Luther, from the
insignificant town of Wittenberg stop preaching and writing those “heretical”
doctrines about faith and the priesthood of all believers.
In
contrast to the tribunal he faced, Luther was dressed in his simple
monk’s cowl. It was David versus Goliath multiplied a hundred times over.
A
table had been placed in the room with Luther’s books on it. He was first asked
if these were his books. He looked them over and replied in the affirmative. He
was then ordered to recant.
Luther
seemed overwhelmed by the imposing authorities assembled before him, and in a
voice that could barely be heard, he asked for more time to consider their
demand. The emperor gave him one day.
Backing
in his lodging Luther poured out his heart to God. As he prayed, there came a
bold, unshakable faith into his heart. Later in life, he wrote about that
moment, saying, “I was fearless. I was afraid of nothing. God can make one so
desperately bold.”
Luther
returned the next day and was again ordered to recant. He clearly and unequivocally
stated that he was willing to recant but only if he could be shown by Scripture
and reasonable arguments that he was wrong.
The
medieval church was not in the habit of discussing its demands with accused
heretics, and they angrily demanded that Luther recant then and there. Knowing
his life was on the line, Luther did not flinch, but quietly and confidently
stated,
I consider myself convicted by the
testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis. My conscience is captive to the
Word of God. Thus, I cannot and will not recant anything, because acting
against one's conscience is neither safe nor sound. Here I stand! I can do no
other! God help me! Amen!
This
was a significant turning point in church and world history. From that moment,
there was no stopping the Reformation. Luther’s boldness unleashed a
groundswell of support that spread across Europe and eventually around the
world.
He
was so bold, in fact, that some of his friends thought he was too bold.
Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, in giving a report of Luther’s
performance, said, “How excellently did Father
Martin speak before the Emperor and Estates. He was bold enough, if not too
much so.”
This Gift of Faith is For You
Do
you feel a need for faith, courage and boldness? There is a gift of faith that
God can manifest in your heart that will result in miracles, or enable you to
face a trying situation with unshakable faith. Look to Him now and yield to His Holy Spirit. Faith
from heaven will flow!
This
article was derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s latest book, The Charismatic Luther, with the subtitle, Healings, Miracles & Spiritual Gifts in the Life of the Great Reformer, now available from Amazon in Kindle, and soon to be available in paperback. Check
out his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment