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A Mighty Fortress

I sang "A Mighty Fortress" for the first time this past summer. I had heard it before, but the words didn't resonate until I read them. My favorite part is the fourth stanza (I would recommend the version by Chris Rice). There is such powerful Truth in these simple words. Its amazing that God can use a hymn written in the 1500's to continue to prune my wicked heart.


That word above all earthly pow'rs --
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.


That word above all earthly pow'rs --

"13 And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His Name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in Heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of His Mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He hath on His Vesture and on His Thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Revelation 19:13-16).

No thanks to them abideth;

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1John 2:15).

The Spirit and the gifts are ours

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).

Thru Him who with us sideth.

"The LORD is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you" (2Chronicles 15:2).

Let goods and kindred go,

"26 If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26-27, 33).

This mortal life also;

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:8).

The body they may kill:

"7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the Beast that ascendeth out of the Bottomless Pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of Life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them" (Revelation 11:7, 11).

God's truth abideth still --

"For the Truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever" (2John 2).

His kingdom is forever.

"Thine, O LORD is the Greatness, and the Power, and the Glory, and the Victory, and the Majesty: for all that is in the Heaven and in the Earth is Thine; Thine is the Kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as Head above all" (1Chronicles 29:11).

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, for ever. Amen" (Matthew 6:13).

"Now unto the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the Only Wise God, be Honour and Glory for ever and ever. Amen" (1Timothy 1:17).

"15 Which in His times He shall shew, Who is the Blessed and Only Potentate, the KING of Kings, and LORD of Lords; 16 Who only hath Immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to Whom be Honour and Power Everlasting. Amen." (1Timothy 6:15-16).

http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Poetry/A-Mighty-Fortress.html

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