Adolf
After studying Luther for 2 days I have come to the coiculsnon that the most important ministry in Luthers eyes was prayer. Prayer was his consuming passion.Luther birthed the Protestant Reformation on October 31, 1517-the Fourth of July for Protestants. He was condemned for his heresy against the Catholic Church and his refusal to recant. (1521) He was secluded at Wartburg Castle-his Patmos. There Luther translated the NT into vernacular German so the everyday people could have personal access to the Scriptures. The German dialect Luther used became the written language of all Germany. During Luthers time, Germany-about the size of Montana-was a confusing collection of over 300 little feudal states.Luther married former nun Katharine von Bora on June 13, 1525. He was not a romantic man. I am not madly in love, but I cherish her. She was 15 years his junior. They had six children and two of the children died in childhood. They were married for 21 years. Luther died first and Katie died 4 years later. Her last words were, I will stick to Christ as a burr to a topcoat. (Info about Luther marriage is in 25 SURPRISING MARRIAGES WILLIAM J. PETERSEN I wish I could loan to everyone of you-it is a treasure!)Much has been written about Luthers battle with Satan. As we say here in the South, it plum wore me out reading all I could find. Im going to sum it up this way: Luther was such a man of prayer because he understood that there is constant opposition from the enemy. By keeping total focus on Christ, Luther gained the peace needed to overcome darkness. As I have learned, biblically, peace does not mean no conflict, it means living a stable life-not chaotic. True Christians CAN have internal peace because it is Christ who gives the strength to do so. We, as His sheep, get to ask for His strength. I came across my teaching notes from 2008 recently and found the following statement. The soul (study was on Jacob Gen35) must not rest on miracles but on Gods own Word I believe that is what Luther is telling us. In the battle with darkness we MUST walk by FAITH not by sight.In a conversation with the prince of Wittenburg, the Elector John the Constant, Luther calls Satan a sorry bitter spirit who cannot bear that the heart of man should rejoice or be at peace (have a non-chaotic life), particularily in the Lord.Another Luther quote concerning his unseen foe was made in 1527- the 10th anniversary of 95 theses. One source I read considers this to be the foundational quote for Luthers Battle Hymn-A Mighty Fortess. The only comfort against raging Satan is that we have Gods Word to save the souls of believers. If we already have salvation-deliverance-from sin, what salvation is Luther speaking of? What else do we need to be delivered from? I submit we need constant deliverance from despair and despondency. If we focused on the bad stuff all the time we would live in a terminal state of depression, which is exactly where the enemy wants us. Satan knows the power of prayer and tries to keep us from it at all times. Satan knows the power praise can give a battered believer. When a believer who has an invisible knife wielding her soul begins to praise Almighty God, Satan knows God will come to the rescue. Satan wants no one to be rescued. The theme of Luthers hymn is TRUST in Gods protection amidst the battle that Christians wage against the devil.Luthers friendship with Philip Melanchthon reminds me of Davids friendship with Jonathan in that there was nothing they would not do for each other. Luther was Paul. Philip was Timothy. Let Luther describe Philip Melanchthon, distinguished teacher of the Greek language at Wittenburg, for you: a mere youth in age, figure, and appearance; but a man when one considered the extent of his knowledge.In 1522 Luther stated No commentator has come nearer to the spirit of the Apostle Paul than my Philippus. Philip assisted Luther with translation of the Bible.Luther and Melanchthon were day and night in personality. Luther was considerably an extrovert while Melanchthon was of a delicate nature. I learned that Philip could not mentally handle the strife of the day. (Can you imagine the arguments and debates over Luthers true doctrine? Not much as changed in that area since Luthers days.)Philip fell physically ill from all the mental battling. He was perfectly content to die and go to heaven. He didnt mind leaving all the strife of life behind. Luther would have none of that line of thinking. Luther interceded for Philip as he lay close to death. He told Philip, No, no, Philip, thou must serve the Lord our God still further! (kinda what Steve told Dee when she wanted to go with her beloved.) Philip recovered by divine power. Their friendship lasted 28 yrs. I have much to thank Luther for when I attend corporate worship on Sundays. He instituted singing in worship. He loved singing. Luthers favorite NT book was Galatians for it was Pauls epistle that taught him salvation is by faith alone-sola fide. Luther could not stand James epistle. He found it dry as straw. I love James for he tells it like it is.I have learned that Luther had a tender heart when it came to ministering to women. He wrote hundreds of pamphlets. One was exclusively for women: Comfort for Women Who Have Had a Miscarriage, 1542. Luther understood the sorrow of losing a child. When his beloved daughter Magdalen died, Luther stated, Indeed I rejoice in the spirit, but sorrow in the flesh; the flesh will not submit: parting grieves us beyond all measure. Lets remember these words as we comfort those who mourn the death of loved ones.Martin Luthers last word spoken on this planet was YES. He had been asked Reverend Father, shall you die faithful to Christ and the doctrine you preached. Luther died on Feburary 18, 1546 at the age of 62. May we all live faithful to Christ until our last day.
Adolf After studying Luther for 2 days I have come to the coiculsnon that the most important ministry in Luthers eyes was prayer. Prayer was his consuming passion.Luther birthed the Protestant Reformation on October 31, 1517-the Fourth of July for Protestants. He was condemned for his heresy against the Catholic Church and his refusal to recant. (1521) He was secluded at Wartburg Castle-his Patmos. There Luther translated the NT into vernacular German so the everyday people could have personal access to the Scriptures. The German dialect Luther used became the written language of all Germany. During Luthers time, Germany-about the size of Montana-was a confusing collection of over 300 little feudal states.Luther married former nun Katharine von Bora on June 13, 1525. He was not a romantic man. I am not madly in love, but I cherish her. She was 15 years his junior. They had six children and two of the children died in childhood. They were married for 21 years. Luther died first and Katie died 4 years later. Her last words were, I will stick to Christ as a burr to a topcoat. (Info about Luther marriage is in 25 SURPRISING MARRIAGES WILLIAM J. PETERSEN I wish I could loan to everyone of you-it is a treasure!)Much has been written about Luthers battle with Satan. As we say here in the South, it plum wore me out reading all I could find. Im going to sum it up this way: Luther was such a man of prayer because he understood that there is constant opposition from the enemy. By keeping total focus on Christ, Luther gained the peace needed to overcome darkness. As I have learned, biblically, peace does not mean no conflict, it means living a stable life-not chaotic. True Christians CAN have internal peace because it is Christ who gives the strength to do so. We, as His sheep, get to ask for His strength. I came across my teaching notes from 2008 recently and found the following statement. The soul (study was on Jacob Gen35) must not rest on miracles but on Gods own Word I believe that is what Luther is telling us. In the battle with darkness we MUST walk by FAITH not by sight.In a conversation with the prince of Wittenburg, the Elector John the Constant, Luther calls Satan a sorry bitter spirit who cannot bear that the heart of man should rejoice or be at peace (have a non-chaotic life), particularily in the Lord.Another Luther quote concerning his unseen foe was made in 1527- the 10th anniversary of 95 theses. One source I read considers this to be the foundational quote for Luthers Battle Hymn-A Mighty Fortess. The only comfort against raging Satan is that we have Gods Word to save the souls of believers. If we already have salvation-deliverance-from sin, what salvation is Luther speaking of? What else do we need to be delivered from? I submit we need constant deliverance from despair and despondency. If we focused on the bad stuff all the time we would live in a terminal state of depression, which is exactly where the enemy wants us. Satan knows the power of prayer and tries to keep us from it at all times. Satan knows the power praise can give a battered believer. When a believer who has an invisible knife wielding her soul begins to praise Almighty God, Satan knows God will come to the rescue. Satan wants no one to be rescued. The theme of Luthers hymn is TRUST in Gods protection amidst the battle that Christians wage against the devil.Luthers friendship with Philip Melanchthon reminds me of Davids friendship with Jonathan in that there was nothing they would not do for each other. Luther was Paul. Philip was Timothy. Let Luther describe Philip Melanchthon, distinguished teacher of the Greek language at Wittenburg, for you: a mere youth in age, figure, and appearance; but a man when one considered the extent of his knowledge.In 1522 Luther stated No commentator has come nearer to the spirit of the Apostle Paul than my Philippus. Philip assisted Luther with translation of the Bible.Luther and Melanchthon were day and night in personality. Luther was considerably an extrovert while Melanchthon was of a delicate nature. I learned that Philip could not mentally handle the strife of the day. (Can you imagine the arguments and debates over Luthers true doctrine? Not much as changed in that area since Luthers days.)Philip fell physically ill from all the mental battling. He was perfectly content to die and go to heaven. He didnt mind leaving all the strife of life behind. Luther would have none of that line of thinking. Luther interceded for Philip as he lay close to death. He told Philip, No, no, Philip, thou must serve the Lord our God still further! (kinda what Steve told Dee when she wanted to go with her beloved.) Philip recovered by divine power. Their friendship lasted 28 yrs. I have much to thank Luther for when I attend corporate worship on Sundays. He instituted singing in worship. He loved singing. Luthers favorite NT book was Galatians for it was Pauls epistle that taught him salvation is by faith alone-sola fide. Luther could not stand James epistle. He found it dry as straw. I love James for he tells it like it is.I have learned that Luther had a tender heart when it came to ministering to women. He wrote hundreds of pamphlets. One was exclusively for women: Comfort for Women Who Have Had a Miscarriage, 1542. Luther understood the sorrow of losing a child. When his beloved daughter Magdalen died, Luther stated, Indeed I rejoice in the spirit, but sorrow in the flesh; the flesh will not submit: parting grieves us beyond all measure. Lets remember these words as we comfort those who mourn the death of loved ones.Martin Luthers last word spoken on this planet was YES. He had been asked Reverend Father, shall you die faithful to Christ and the doctrine you preached. Luther died on Feburary 18, 1546 at the age of 62. May we all live faithful to Christ until our last day.