Moving in the Apostolic

Apostolic Reformation

71

Apostolic Boldness And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31). In the midst of persecution comes apostolic boldness. Apostolic reformers are noted for their boldness in preaching the truth in spite of persecution and even death. Intimidation is a tool of the devil to stop reformation. The enemy does not want the Church to come into the form intended by the Lord. When the Church comes into proper form, it will fulfill the plan of God in the earth. Until then, the enemy will use every method at his disposal to stop reformation, but one of his major weapons is intimidation. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word (Acts 4:29). Religious systems and leaders who desire to maintain the status quo for their own benefit will use threats against apostolic reformers. But apostolic reformers have the anointing and boldness to bring about reform in the face of staunch opposition. They are hated and called troublemakers because of their message, but they bring to the Church what it needs most— reformation! The Lion-Hearted Reformer Martin Luther was called the lion-hearted reformer because of his boldness and stand against the errors of the institutional Church of his day. His ministry was apostolic, and he is a prime example of an apostolic reformer. In 1517, Pope Leo X needed money to finish building St. Peter's Church in Rome. He granted permission to a man named John Tetzel, a dominican monk, to sell indulgences to finance the building of the cathedral. An indulgence was a promise to the buyer, granted by the pope, of a reduction of length of stay in purgatory (according to Roman Catholic doctrine, the place a