FOR THOUGH WE WALK IN THE FLESH, WE DO NOT WAR AFTER THE FLESH: ( 4 ) ( FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL, BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD TO THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONGHOLDS; ) ( 5 ) CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST; ( 6 ) AND HAVING IN A READINESS TO REVENGE ALL DISOBEDIENCE, WHEN YOUR OBEDIENCE IS FULFILLED.

MARTIN LUTHER AND THE 95 THESES ( October 31, 1517 )

Five hundred and three years ago, this month; Martin Luther pinned these theses to the Church door. Let me quote the remark he made just before he begin numbering the 95. ( OUT OF LOVE FOR THE TRUTH AND FROM DESIRE TO ELUCIDATE IT, THE REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER, MASTER OF ARTS AND SACRED THEOLOGY, AND ORDINARY LECTURER THEREIN AT WITTENBERG, INTENDS TO DEFEND THE FOLLOWING STATEMEMNTS AND TO DISPUTE ON THEM IN THAT PLACE. THEREFORE HE ASKS THAT THOSE WHO CANNOT BE PRESENT AND DISPUTE WITH HIM ORALLY SHALL DO SO IN THEIR ABSENCE BY LETTER. IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AMEN. )

It’s two things I’d like to point out here. The word ( elucidate ) means to make plain and clear. He also says here that he will ( defend the following statements ) ( in that place ).

In the intent of this article it doesn’t matter whether I agree or disagree with all 95 points he made, The point that matters is that he, as a born again believer, a man that treasured truth and the teaching of that truth was willing to stand up ( in that place ) and defend what he believed.

I’d like to point something out here. I don’t consider myself to be a protestant. I never protested and left any Church. However, there are denominations that are truly made Churches that did exactly that. What has happened over the last 400 years since this man stood and protested what was happening in the Church? The Churches that came into being because of the stand of that one man, what are they doing today?

Let’s seek to be honest and clear. We now have colleges and universities that have been infiltrated by professors that teach a distinct common minset about religion. It doesn’t matter what the name of the school is, it’s all about the religious mindset. The average Church today requires that its pastors have at least an associate degree before they are even considerd to be the pastor of that Church. That means that basically, all Churches have a common connection to ( one specific Church ) that; whether we like it or not.

We, as Church members often fall in love with buildings, pastors, people, ideals but, we never even consider what the word of God says about certain issues. Most members of Churches, no matter what denomination, have no idea what the leadership, the upper level of men and women even believe. For the most part, they don’t care, their love for the building, pastor and people supercedes everything, including the truth or how Jesus Christ sees any issue. The problem, as long as the pastor, the people and the Church is satisfied with them ( they are right with God ).

The day has come and, has been for a while that we need a ( Martin Luther ) in every Church. A man that will stand against all odds and protest the lack of truth that is being taught. Martin Luther said ( out of the love for truth ) and ( a desire to plainly and clearly teach that truth ). That is why he moved.

You must understand! If you are in a denomination, forgetting what your pastor says or the people say. What does the leadership say? Where do they stand? Look at your pastor; why does he do what he does? Is he concerned about the retirement he’ll lose if he leaves the denomination he’s in; if he teaches truth above what his leadership tells him to teach or preach?

Let’s make it clear! I was saved in an independant Baptist Church. I now am a member of a Southern Baptist Church. Above any denomination, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Catholic and any other denomination that can be named: I am born again, washed in the blood of Jesus Christ. The man, Jesus Christ comes in ( the volume of a book ). That book tells who he is, how he feels and where he stands.

Jesus Christ. to those that are born again, filled with his Spirit ( elucidates ) every issue that you might have a question about, no exception. He speaks clearly, precisely and reveals himself to those that choose to know him above, their pastor, their denomination and the few people that you think you love.

Let’s be clear. The leadership. I’ll step out on a limb and say in every denomination actually could care less where you spend eternity. Their concern is the bottom line, how much money are we making, what pastor draws the biggest crowd.

God’s desire for his Church is for ( A MAN ) called by his Spirit to stand behind a pulpit and preach exactly what the Spirit of God lays on his heart. For a man to do less is simply feeding the desires of our ungodly flesh. As long as God’s Spirit is not heeded to; Satan is well pleased.

Let’s make it clear. The responsibility of ever wife is to submit to her own husband. The husband ( born again ) is to study God’s word, teach that word to his wife and children. When this family goes to Church that husband is to protect his family against any and all false teaching that might come from any man behind any pulpit. That husband is to stand, call out false teaching. When every husband in any given Church become willing to do these things then, the man of God will either get right or get out.

In many cases ( the husband ) will defend his family against every evil in this world other than ( spiritual wickedness in high places ).( Ephesians 6:12 ) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Every man in every Church should come together, place their pastor in front of them all and, demand that he reveal where he stands on every issue possible, make him set the standard of Jesus Christ without yielding to any other power. To do less is allowing Satan to have his way in the local Church and, he already has it in the homes that represent that Church.

I once had a young man asked me what I thought about ( women pastors )? I told him; the very fact that you ask me that question, tells me something about your Church. I told him that once you open yourself up to compromise; where does it end? How long will it be before you are allowing ( Homsexuals )to be pastors? That Church did allow a woman to be their pastor. Can you quess what they are allowing now?

I said, the word of God is Jesus Christ. Look at what he said. ( Matthew 12:30 ) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Man has a way that seemeth right unto him. ( Proverbs 14:12 – 16:25 ) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

I always try to point this out: when I stand before God, neither, my pastor, my Church, my denomination, my wife, my husband, not even my closest earthly friend will be there. I, as an individual have either given myself to Jesus Christ or I have not. The very concept of being born again has been lost in the yearning for saying ( I believe ) in Jesus Christ, getting baptized, joining a denomination. All this seems right but, do you have eternal life? Have you been born again?

Martin Luther stood. I might have cost him a lot but, he stood. We need men today that are willing to stand, simply for the ( Love of the truth ). Seeking to fill the spiritual needs of others and, seeking to proclaim Jesus Christ, that he might be known above all.

Stand up men! our time is growing short!

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7