Unmoved, We Stand! Exodus 14:13 “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord.”

Grace, mercy, and peace to you, from God, our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our sermon theme is taken from the great hymn of the Reformation, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, verse 3, Though hordes of devils fill the land, All threat’ning to devour us, We tremble not, Unmoved we stand; They cannot overpow’r us.

Our sermon text is from Exodus 14:13, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord.” 

Reformation Day 2020 is different than what we’ve experienced before, not in substance, not in the message: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, and Scripture Alone, but in context, in world events. 

This year we’re plagued with a pandemic. This is one of the hordes of devils, that fill the land, threatening to devour us – yet in the Lord, unmoved, we stand. 

The devil would love for us to cower in fear. Fear is one of his favorite feelings, and one of our least favorite. Being afraid all the time is a miserable way to live.

It can wear us down to the point where we just give up.

Enter Christ, a Champion who comes to fight, as He’s called in A Mighty Fortress. He says, “Give your troubles and fears to me, and watch what I’ll do with them for you!

Or as our text says, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord.”

Moses said this when the children of Israel were trapped between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea. 

I can’t help but think of Charlton Heston saying this, as he’s playing Moses in the classic movie, “The Ten Commandments”, standing there by the sea, staff in hand, flowing gray hair and beard, with Yul Brenner as the Pharaoh, leading the Egyptian army, riding fast in his chariot, no hair to flow in the wind, 

the Israelites in a panic, and Moses saying, “Don’t be afraid, don’t panic, don’t try run away; stand firm and watch how the Lord will save you.” God opened the sea and saved them.

No matter the challenge or problem you’re facing, don’t panic, don’t try to run away from it. That never works. Just stand firm in faith, and watch what the Lord will do for you.

Almost 500 years ago, a certain man with his life on the line, followed this advice.

A monk named Martin, stood trembling before the most powerful person in the world, the Emperor Charles V. 

He was expecting to be able to defend his writings, which claimed that Scripture alone is the authority for Christian doctrine, not the Pope or the Church. And that salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith in Christ alone, and that our good works contribute nothing whatsoever to our salvation. 

Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone! That’s what he was defending. 

But it was a trap. He wasn’t asked to defend or explain his writings, he was just asked if he would recant them, renounce them. 

If he would recant, the Reformation would die, and the Gospel would fall into obscurity. But Luther would live.

If he refused to recant, his life would be forfeit. 

So when asked, Luther requested to have the night to think and pray about it. A sleepless night it must have been. Have you ever had one of those sleepless nights? They drag on forever. 

In the morning Martin Luther appeared before the Emperor to announce his decision. And he said in so many words, “I can’t go against my conscience and God’s Word. Here I stand. I can’t do anything else. My answer is “No!”. God help me.” 

Luther stood firm and did the right thing, depending on God to protect and deliver him. 

He had been promised safety while appearing before the Emperor, but going home, all bets were off. 

On the way back to Wittenberg, he was suddenly surrounded by a company of horsemen. A bag was thrown over his head, and he was whisked away… back to Rome to be burned at the stake, he must have thought. 

But Luther was actually being kidnapped by his ruler, Frederick the Wise, for his own safety. He was hid and guarded at a castle in Wartburg. 

Martin Luther stood firm in faith, and did the only thing he could do: he put it in God’s hands. 

But that doesn’t mean he did nothing. He was very busy at Wartburg. 

During his time there, Luther translated the New Testament into the language of his people, German. And now today, we have the Bible translated into hundreds of languages for people to read and believe, and be strengthened and comforted.

Amazingly, much to his surprise, I’m sure, Luther ended up dying of old age. He had to have thought that he would die as a young man. But that wasn’t God’s plan for him.

Throughout his life, Luther stood firm and depended on the salvation of the Lord, just like Moses, who must have thought he would be killed by the Pharaoh, but amazingly, Moses also died as an old man.

Whether young or old, Moses like so many other people of faith in the Bible, and Luther, like so many throughout church history, stood firm, and trusted the Lord to do whatever he would do for them.

In the same way, in Christ we stand unmoved, firm in faith, strong with courage. 

This doesn’t mean we don’t have doubts and fears, we do. It’s a fallen world; it’s not an easy place to live. But even when our knees are knocking, we’re depending on God to be our Mighty Fortress!

Washed in our Baptism, strengthened by our Lord’s body and blood, forgiven in His Absolution, enlightened by His Word, comforted by His Gospel, encouraged by His family, the Church, and empowered by His Spirit, we stand firm in faith, and watch what the Lord will do for us.

The verse following our text, verse 14 says, “The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.” We need only to trust in the Lord’s mighty power for us; He’ll win the battle.

Whatever that battle might be for you, ultimately the battle against sin, death, the world and the devil, Christ has already won the victory; we need only to receive it by faith, and live in peace and confidence, knowing that God always has our back.   

So fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord. Let go, and let God deliver you.

Standing still in the Lord doesn’t mean we do nothing with our time. As Luther was busy while being guarded at Wartburg Castle, so, as we’re being guarded by God’s holy angels, we’re busy to serve our Lord and to help others, especially our neighbors in need; we’re active to spread the Good News of the life and help and grace there is in Christ; and we’re busy to pray.

We might be somewhat restricted some during these crazy, Covid times. But with God’s help we can stand firm in faith, and be active in love, wherever we are, in whatever ways we have opportunity. Every small prayer and kind thought is a blessing to others, and brings glory to God.

No matter the challenge, no matter the times, have no fear. Be calm, stand firm, and watch the Lord save you. 

And as He saves you, His peace which passes understanding, will guard your heart and mind, in Christ Jesus, our mighty Lord. Amen.