You may have seen the movie that was out a few years ago called "The Patriot." Mel Gibson played the lead role in the movie. If you have not seen the movie, it is a stirring depiction of a widower during the American Revolution. He was caught between protecting his family and fighting for the cause of the new nation. Many hardships and troubles came upon this man throughout this movie as he played a major role in gaining independence for the United States of America. Continuously he and his family were in danger of losing their lives.

As the movie was played out, a simple phrase became the motto of this revolutionary. The phrase, when spoken, would give me goose bumps as the story unfolded. Every time the man would feel like giving up, someone would simply say, "Stay the course, Benjamin, stay the course." Amid great turmoil, this phrase "Stay the course" would bolster his morale and encourage him to fight on for country and family. '

This morning I would like to encourage you as the devil wages war on us to Stay the Course. Often our lives are not peaceful strolls alongside quiet streams and through green valleys. Often it seems just the opposite. Our lives seem like chaotic dashes with thunder and lightning all around us. This goes for our physical lives and our spiritual lives. So take this encouragement from God's Word today. Stay the course proclaiming the gospel and then give God all the glory.

The sermon lesson from Revelation begins with the sixth verse of Chapter 14. The first thing we are told is that there is an angel flying in midair. Many people in the history of the church have made this angel to be Martin Luther. In fact, this text was used at the funeral of the great Reformer. However we have no distinct proof that this angel is Luther, but rather the angel symbolizes the faithful servant of God. Of course Luther would be a prime example of this prophecy being fulfilled, but he is not the only faithful servant.

The servant is not really the important aspect of this verse anyway. It is what the angel has in his hand that is important. He has the Eternal Gospel. I would like to draw your attention to those two words for a moment, Eternal Gospel. How great are those two words put together! Now you may wonder how the gospel could be eternal, for it will no longer be proclaimed to sinners after Judgment day. That is true, however the promises held in the gospel will last forever. The blessings we receive through this message are eternal.

So how have you been doing in your quest to be the faithful servant proclaiming the eternal gospel? Let's take a moment and evaluate ourselves. God places the opportunity in front of you to share message of Christ crucified with a neighbor, friend or relative. What is your reaction? As sinful human beings we can come up with countless excuses not proclaim the eternal gospel. The first one that is often given is that it is too hard to do it. How do you think Jesus feels when we use that excuse? Is that not a slap in the Savior's face? When Jesus suffered for our sins, did give up because it was too hard? We also give the excuse that we don't have the words the to say. How do think God reacts when he hears that excuse? Does he not give us the words to say in the Bible? Yet we are often too lazy or preoccupied to study the Word of God where we will be given the Eternal Gospel to share. Another excuse we give is that we are too embarrassed to share the gospel with those close to us. We really have to think about that one. Did God say, "Go into all the world and preach the good news, unless you are uncomfortable. Then let somebody else do it."?

All of these excuses are given to us by the devil. It is his goal to get us to stop proclaiming the gospel, to get us off course. He loves it when let our selfish excuses stop us of from telling people about Jesus. God tells us to share the message of Christ crucified. We all have to admit that we have sinned and been lazy and selfish in regard to this command of God. We do not deserve to be called God's faithful servants.

And yet we are, through Jesus our Savior. Because Jesus did obey his Father and never sinned, because he willingly died on the cross to take away every sinful desire and deed that we have committed, God looks at us and says, "You are forgiven. You are mine now and no longer the devils. I have freed you from the chains of sin and fires of hell." Praise God that he has freed us and made us alive. This eternal gospel has been given to you. Now it is your time to go and give the eternal gospel to those who are suffering in unbelief.

So go without fear. God has given you the words to say. It is a simple message. Start with Jesus Christ the Savior. Without Jesus, there is no eternal life, so just tell people boldly about him. If you feel inadequate in preaching the eternal gospel, join the club. But God has given us this duty and we are to faithfully carry it out. And if you feel unsure, do something about it. Go to Bible class. Hear the word of God. Be strengthened by it so that you can boldly stay the course. Don't let the devil knock you off course with lame excuses as to why you can't tell people about Jesus. Stay the Course, proclaiming the Gospel.

I was wondering as I wrote this sermon, what if Martin Luther got knocked off course by the devil? What if he failed to proclaim the message? Where would God have sent the gospel? Would St. Stephen even exist? Would I be a Christian? Then I wondered what would have happened if my parents had been knocked off course? Would I be here today serving as your pastor? Yet, as I pondered these thoughts, I realized that we do not give Martin Luther the credit and we don't give our parents the glory. They may have been instruments used by God, but all the glory goes to God. So I want to encourage you this day as we celebrate mission work to stay the course, giving God the glory.

As we look at the eternal gospel and see the message in it, we realize that the message itself gives God all the glory. Verse 7 of the lesson for this morning says that the angel spoke in a loud voice and said, "Fear God and give him glory." What is this fear that the angel is talking about? It is a call to repentance. It is a warning for us to repent of our sins and turn away from them. This fear also denotes a deep respect that we have for God. Consider the First Commandment. We are told to place God above all things in our lives. Yet we have stumbled at this commandment and all of the commandments. We have not feared God.

But God gives us comfort as our conscience eats away at us. As our guilt piles up, we get the soothing message of the gospel like Psalm 130:4. "But with you there is forgiveness, therefore you are feared." Right there, that is it. Those words are why we fear God and give him all the glory. He offers us forgiveness. We cannot forgive our own sins. Only God can.

So stay the course giving God all the glory for his eternal gospel. Give God the glory with your lips. Praise his name in worship and prayer. Use your lips in obeying the command of God and sharing the good news of salvation with all people. These aren't just hollow, empty words I am telling you. Do it. Go out and tell people about Jesus. And not only give your glory to God with you lips, but also with your lives. Make God a priority. Don't give him your leftovers. Don't make time for job, your friends, your hobbies, TV, and then give God what is left at the end of the weekend. Give God the glory with your entire life. Use your time here to tell people about Jesus.

And hurry! Hurry because these words of Revelation say that the hour of God's Judgment has come. The end is near and the world needs the message. Sinful human beings need the law and the gospel. If you do not know Jesus as your Savior from sin and have that faith in your heart, you will go to hell. It is plain and simple. And you know people who are headed to hell. Today our service is focused on mission work and we don't have to look to another country, half way around the world to find unbelievers. You can look at your neighbors, co-workers, and families. Hurry and share the eternal gospel with them.

But remember as you walk out these doors today and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, all the glory goes to our Almighty God. He deserves the glory because he makes sure that the gospel gets to every nook and cranny of the world. He deserves the glory because he saves the lost.

The devil wants nothing more than to knock the church off course so that the message of Christ crucified will not be proclaimed. But with help of God, I urge each one of you to stay the course in the battle against Satan. Proclaim the gospel and give God the glory for it. And as you do this, remember the words of "A Mighty Fortress." Take out your hymnals and look at the 3rd verse of hymn 200. "Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us. We tremble not, we fear no ill, they shall not overpower us. This world's prince may still scowl fierce as he will, He can harm us none. He's judged the deed is done. One little word can fell him." Use that Word, the Word of God. And take comfort, you need not be afraid. The devil is powerless against the angel holding the eternal gospel. Be the faithful servant of God like so many before you. Stay the course, proclaiming the good news and glorifying God.