“In the middle of the square at Wittenberg stood an
ancient wooden chapel, thirty feet long and twenty feet wide, whose walls,
propped up on all sides, were falling into ruin. An old pulpit made of planks,
and three feet high, received the preacher. It was in this wretched place that
the preaching of the Reformation began. It was God’s will that that which was
to restore His glory should have the humblest surroundings. It was in this
wretched enclosure that God willed, so to speak, that His well-beloved Son should
be born a second time. Among those thousands of cathedrals and parish churches
with which the world is filled, there was not one at that time that God chose
for the glorious preaching of eternal life”
-D’Aubigne
The preaching of the Reformation was begun by Martin
Luther in a dilapidated building in the midst of the public square in
Wittenberg in the 16th century while all other parishes and public religious figures raised their fists in angry dissension.
Jesus himself was birthed in a dirty and crowded barn amongst animals, straw and slop, because all other rooms
had quite literally closed their doors to his pleading mother and father.
30 years after his manger birth, Jesus went on to say to
some hard of heart Pharisees in John.8:37 “you have no room for my Word.”
The flame of revival is flickering again. God is not
looking for a grand building, the cleverest church strategy or even the most
eloquent tongue. He’s looking for humble hearts that will hear what He is
saying and who will act obediently upon it.
Reformation for the world begins with revival of the Church.
“The real thing is appearing among us. The Almighty will
again measure swords with Pharaoh’s magicians. But many will reject Him and
blaspheme. Many will fail to recognize Him, even among His professed followers.
We have been praying and believing for a Pentecost. Will we receive it when it
comes?”
-Frank Bartleman
