Sermon: Reformation Day (Psalm)

27 October AD 2013

Title: Our Mighty Fortress (MP3 Audio)

Summary: In earthly situations, if we build on the things of this world, trust the world’s defenses, and try protecting ourselves by our own strength, something will go wrong — perhaps horribly so. Bad things happen even to the “best” of people.

The situation is even more dire matters spiritual and eternal. Our own defenses against Satan the ravening wolf are no more effective than the straw and stick houses of the first two of the Three Little Pigs. He quickly and completely overcomes our efforts to protect ourselves or to hide behind our own works.

However, the Psalmist brings the good news: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” We find safety under the shadow of His wings, behind the might of His walls. Jesus our brother has established for us a sure and everlasting defense.

Our mighty Fortress is God Himself. Only He can protect us. Christ alone is the Gate. He opens to allow us in but closes to keep sin, death, and Devil at bay. The Holy Spirit extends Jesus’ invitation through the Gospel, brings us to faith, and leads us through the Gate into our refuge and dwelling place.

Text: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Audio: Click to hear the MP3 of Our Mighty Fortress, preached to the saints at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Warrensburg, Missouri.

NB: For some reason, a few people have had problems trying to play the inline audio if Windows Media is their default MP3 player. If this occurs, you can either change to QuickTime or another default browser player, copy and paste the link directly into a selected player, or download it to your computer, where it seems to work regardless of which player. Several folks have suggested VLC Player from VideoLAN.

Other Readings: Revelation 14:6-7; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36

Illustration Credits: Original art of the Big Bad Wolf is © by Chris Scalf and used with her kind permission — to be specific, she said, “Go for it!” Public domain photograph of Sacra di San Michele in northern Italy from Wikipedia.

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