A Word from Pastor Jay

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

by Martin Luther

A mighty fortress is our God
Now comes an infant child,
A sword and shield victorious
So tender, meek and mild.

He breaks the cruel oppressor’s rod
Found lying in a manger
And wins salvation glorious
While constantly in danger.

The old satanic foe
The power of death and sin
Has sworn to work us woe
How can this baby win?

With craft and dreadful might,
The child so small and weak,
He arms himself to fight,
The savior whom we seek.

On earth he has no equal.
On earth he has no equal.

No strength of our can match his might
How can our hope begin
We would be lost, rejected,
With no room in the inn

But now a champion comes to fight
As only shepherds came
Whom God himself elected
To witness angel’s claim

You ask who this may be
In Bethlehem’s stall you’ll see
The Lord of hosts is he
God’s gift for you and me.

Christ Jesus, mighty Lord
This child so roughly kept
God’s only son adored
In a feeding trough he slept.

He holds the field victorious
He holds the field victorious.

Though hordes of devils fill the land
God’s love is all we need
All threatening to devour us
This child will sow love’s seed.

We tremble not, unmoved we stand
Now gather ‘round the child
They cannot overpower us
So tender, meek and mild.

Let this world’s tyrant rage
And watch the baby sleep
In battle we’ll engage
In Mary’s arms to keep

His might is doomed to fail
We see with our own eyes
God’s judgment must prevail
How God beats evil’s lies.

One little word subdues him.
One little word subdues him.

God’s word forever shall abide
This child will grow to save
No thanks to foes who fear it
Life’s victory o’er the grave

For God himself fights by our side
In weakness God shows power
With weapons of the spirit
That faith in us might flower

Were they to take our house
A barn is just the place
Goods, honor, child or spouse
For Christ to start this race

Though life be wrenched away
Which ends on Calvary
They cannot win the day
That Easter’s tomb sets free

The kingdom’s ours forever!
The kingdom’s ours forever!