Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
[2] Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
[2] Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
This Scripture has given God’s refuge and strength to many saints in troubled times, myself included.
Martin Luther wrote the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”, which has been called the Battle Hymn of the Reformation — the beginning of the Protestant Reformation that started 501 years ago and spread throughout all of Europe and abroad to America.
Trying to be righteous, he became a monk. He gave away everything he owned and devoted himself to long hours of prayer and fasting.
He deprived himself of sleep and he refused a blanket for the cold nights. He often beat his body.
Later in life while lecturing a series of studies in Romans, the text pierced his heart and God saved him.
He wrote, "At last, meditating day and night, by the mercy of God I ... began to understand that the righteousness of God, through which the righteous (shall) live, is a gift of God (acquired) by faith (alone)… Here I felt as if I were entirely born again and had entered paradise itself through the gates that had been flung open."
A mighty fortress is our God.
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“A mighty fortress is our God, — a bulwark never failing; — our helper He amid the flood — of mortal ills prevailing. — For still our ancient foe — doth seek to work us woe; — his craft and power are great, — and armed with cruel hate, — on earth is not his equal.
“Did we in our own strength confide, — our striving would be losing, — were not the Right Man on our side, — the Man of God's own choosing. — Dost ask who That may be? — Christ Jesus, it is He; — Lord Sabaoth, His name, — from age to age the same, — and He must win the battle.
“And though this world, with devils filled, — should threaten to undo us, — we will not fear, for God hath willed — His truth to triumph through us. — The Prince of Darkness grim, — we tremble not for him; — his rage we can endure, — for lo, his doom is sure; — one little word shall fell him.
“That Word above all earthly powers, — no thanks to them, abideth; — the Spirit and the gifts are ours, — thru Him who with us sideth. — Let goods and kindred go, — this mortal life also; — the body they may kill; — God's truth abideth still; — His kingdom is forever.”
Martin Luther
Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit.
“A mighty fortress is our God, — a bulwark never failing; — our helper He amid the flood — of mortal ills prevailing. — For still our ancient foe — doth seek to work us woe; — his craft and power are great, — and armed with cruel hate, — on earth is not his equal.
“Did we in our own strength confide, — our striving would be losing, — were not the Right Man on our side, — the Man of God's own choosing. — Dost ask who That may be? — Christ Jesus, it is He; — Lord Sabaoth, His name, — from age to age the same, — and He must win the battle.
“And though this world, with devils filled, — should threaten to undo us, — we will not fear, for God hath willed — His truth to triumph through us. — The Prince of Darkness grim, — we tremble not for him; — his rage we can endure, — for lo, his doom is sure; — one little word shall fell him.
“That Word above all earthly powers, — no thanks to them, abideth; — the Spirit and the gifts are ours, — thru Him who with us sideth. — Let goods and kindred go, — this mortal life also; — the body they may kill; — God's truth abideth still; — His kingdom is forever.”
Martin Luther
Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit.
