Be Ready To Confess Jesus as Lord!

2017 is an amazing year, and a year to celebrate, because it marks the convergence of two important anniversaries.

First, it’s the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation, which began on All Saints Eve, Oct. 31, 1517, when a German monk and university professor named, Martin Luther (Lueder) posted the 95 Theses on the cathedral door in Wittenberg, Germany, never imagining what a stir it would cause.

The skit our ladies just did, did a wonderful job of telling the story of Martin Luther and the Reformation, and Katie, too, who supported her husband so faithfully, something he was so grateful for, and that helped him so much.

2017 is also the 75th anniversary of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, the LWML. That means it was formed in 1942, during World War 2. Those were difficult years, and people needed help, especially the comfort of the Gospel, in a time of grieving and sacrificing and a time of uncertainty, not just for America, but for the whole world.

The LWML was formed to support the spread of the comforting gospel in our nation and in the world. Just as Katie Luther did so much to support her husband and the Reformers in the advancement of the gospel, so the women of the LWML have done so much in these 75 years to support the mission of the Church and the ministry of the Gospel.   

As the LWML was formed during a difficult time, so the time of the Reformation was a difficult and dangerous time, as Europe was turned upside down by the changes that were happening. But the Reformers were steadfast in their mission to reveal the Gospel that they had rediscovered in the Bible, to the world!

They were steadfast because they were not alone in what they did; they had God as their fortress, and His Word as their strength, and His Gospel as their comfort. And they had the fellowship of each other to support them.

Surely they must have had doubts, and they knew their lives were at risk, yet the Holy Spirit gave them the courage and resolve to stand strong, and to confess the entire truth of the Gospel, even though the powers that be were trying to silence them, and keep their message from being heard, the message that we are forgiven and saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus. And that the sole authority for doctrine and practice in the Church is the Word of God alone. 

In our Epistle, we see the importance of God’s Word for the world, as Paul gives this charge to Timothy: preach the Word; be ready to share it; always be ready to confess Jesus as Lord, even in adversity, or in the face of opposition.

In our Gospel, Jesus tells us to not fear those who oppose the Word, and may harm your body, but can’t touch your soul. So, Jesus says, Everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I will deny  before my Father in heaven.

In a world that can sometimes seem so unfriendly to the Gospel, we may wonder, where am I going to find that kind of courage to speak up and stand up for Jesus?

The answer to that is found in our Old Testament today, where we’re promised that God will not leave nor forsake us as we incline our hearts toward Him, and follow His statutes, His Word.

When we ‘re steadfast in His Word, we have His protection in all situations. And so we pray and we sing the words of the hymn written by Luther, which we heard the ladies sing in the skit, Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word!

As God was a fortress for Luther and the Reformers, so He’s a mighty fortress for you and me, and all his people everywhere. With that kind of strength upholding us through life’s challenges, we can be ready to share the truth of His Word in our community and in the world.

What do we have to fear? What matters most can never be taken from us when we have Jesus is our Lord.

So at all times, be ready to confess Jesus as Lord, and do it with joy!

Our closing hymn today will be the LWML Hymn, Serve the Lord with Gladness!

It’s an honor to serve the Lord, and a joy to share the Gospel!

As the Church in Heaven sings praise to God and glorifies Him with a joy that we that can hardly imagine, so let us rejoice to serve the Lord; to sing His praises, to boldly confess our faith, and proclaim His grace in the world! 

As we serve the Lord in gladness, and proclaim His grace, the peace of God, which passes understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.