Sermon at the Ordination of Otto Christian Ottesen

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota

February 3, 1884

"Thou therefore endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 2 Ti. 2:3

ENDURING HARDSHIP AS A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST

It is to his disciple Timothy who was installed as bishop in Ephesus that the apostle Paul directs this admonition. When Paul here lays it on Timothy's heart to get used to suffering as a good soldier, he does not, however, by emphasizing this aspect of Timothy's work, want to have it described as its substance. No, the apostle describes his chief work as being an instrument, when in the epistle to the Corinthians he places it alongside his own when he says, "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and  stewards  of the mysteries of God" (1 Co. 4:1). He himself gives a further explanation of those words in the words with which he makes his moving departure from the elders in Ephesus, "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed  the church  of God, which he has purchased with his own blood!" (Ac. 2O:28).

Yes, Timothy was to serve the congregation as a soldier of Christ who is subject to and obedient to the Word of Christ and answerable to him alone as the church's Head and King, and as a steward of the mys-teries of God care for it by guiding it into the good pastures of the Gospel and leading it to the still, flow-ing waters of Siloam. As the Master is called "The Prince of Peace" (Is. 9:6) and comes as the angels sang in order to bring "peace on earth," so are his servants to be bearers of a message of peace by pro-claiming the blessed tidings of the Gospel to people who are lost and condemned on account of sin, to consciences which are troubled because of the judgment of the Law that man's sin was atoned for by the blood of Jesus, that God is a reconciled God, and by exhorting sinners, "Be reconciled with God" (2 Co. 5:20).

However, precisely because this is the chief work of the servants of Christ and of the Word, precisely because they are to proclaim the Gospel of Christ above all else for the conversion of sinners and their translation from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, precisely for this reason their position becomes a position of conflict. For this reason, a servant of Christ, a bearer of the message of the Gospel, becomes a soldier of Christ. The Prince of Peace himself proclaims this when he says: "I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division" (Lk. 12:49.51). And how could it be otherwise?

He came of course to free us from Satan's power and was therefore to "demolish the devil's stronghold" as the stronger man comes upon the strong and overcoming him takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoils (Lk. 11:22).

How was it possible that the devil and his army should look peaceably upon this? On the contrary, he raged bitterly and sought not merely to employ all his cunning and power in order to hinder the work of the Lord, but furthermore, walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour, or he puts on the guise of an angel of light in order to deceive even the elect if that were possible. When he can, he blows up a storm so that the church's ship will sink. And the world, his bride, is of the same sort. Therefore Je-sus says, "The world hates you, because it hates me" (Jo. 15:18). The servant is surely not above the mas-ter but the servant ought to be as his master. Now because it is also the chief work of the servants of Christ to demolish the devil's strongholds through the preaching of the Gospel, they have to be exposed to his enmity and aggression. The enemies of Christ must be and remain their enemies. In a never-ending battle they must win their spoil from them and preserve the flock of God in peace. Without a battle there is no victory. Without a victory there is no crown, no peace.

Thus do we see that a servant of the Word, a bearer of the Gospel, must also be a soldier of Christ. More than that, that a servant of Christ must be on guard constantly, be in battle unceasingly, so that neither he himself nor anyone else is to be offended by this. If he abandons his post, runs from the battle for the sake of an easy life, or out of a false love cries "peace, peace" where there is no peace and wants to reconcile the truth with lies, then by doing that he shows himself not a servant of Christ but a hireling, a belly server.

Yes, every Christian has already enlisted as a soldier of Christ through Baptism and is assigned to battle against the enemies of Christ under the banner of the cross. At our Baptism we of course promised our God to renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways. In this battle formation of the Lord, the ser- vants of the Word have the leading but also the most dangerous post and the one most full of responsibil-ity. They are to lead the way into battle under the supreme command of the Lord's Christ.

You also, my young friend, are placed here by the Holy Ghost through this congregation's Call to be such a servant of the Word and such a soldier of Jesus Christ! I know how your pious mother, as Hannah previously, promised you to the Lord and his service already when she was carrying you under her heart, likewise how your venerable father4 has not let there be a lack of admonition and discipline so that you might become a willing instrument of the Lord in his service. And the Lord heard the many prayers which were offered up on your behalf and he has blessed your mother's nurture and your father's admonition so that both they and we have the great joy of seeing you present yourself here today to be ordained to the work of the Holy Ministry according to the old apostolic practice of prayer and the laying on of hands, after you first, as we have heard just now, have acquired for yourself the necessary knowledge and been declared fit for the work. Here, you are now by God's grace, through the preaching of the Law, to awak- en sinners who are sleeping and cause secure sinners to tremble before the judgment of the Law. Here, by the preaching of the Gospel you are to lead weary, sin-oppressed souls to Christ so that they can be blessed in him. Always active, so that you can tear some soul from Satan, you are to stand at your post as a good soldier of Jesus Christ in order to protect the flock committed to you against the devil's attack so that none of the souls won to Christ shall be ensnared by the enemy and again come under his power.

But as to how you are to carry on your Lord's battle as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, I will only remind you of how the apostle Paul describes the armor in which a soldier of Christ is to be arrayed: "Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having put on the breastplate of right-eousness, and having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" (Ep.6:13-18).

We see from this that a soldier of Jesus Christ has to be arrayed in the armor of God. Even a Goliath's armor is not appropriate and good for a David who wants to wage the Lord's war. But we see that more than anything else, faith, justifying and saving faith, is what it means to be arrayed in the armor of God. Through faith alone are you clothed in the righteousness of Christ, do you have peace and skill in the Gospel of peace. Through faith alone can you protect yourself with the shield which quenches the fiery darts of the wicked one and properly use the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and with which alone the enemy can be slain.

But in the next place it finally also applies to a soldier of Jesus Christ that as Paul says to Timothy im-mediately after the words of our text, he "strive lawfully," that is, in the manner which the Lord has pre-scribed for his soldiers in his Word, so that you do not act according to your wisdom, liking or thoughts, or according to what you think appropriate and helpful, but so that you set aside all worldly sorrows and cares in reliance on Jesus Christ and his Word and direct yourself entirely according to the will of the Lord revealed in the Word.

I surely know, my dear friend, how, as a pious and obedient son you have often answered your father, "I will do as you wish," even when what he asked could have been contrary to your own liking and inclina-tion. How much more will you not now strive to be obedient to your heavenly Father in everything and say, "Not as I will, but as you will" (Mt. 26:39).

However, we do not wish to look extensively here at the armor of a soldier of Jesus Christ or at how he is to do battle in general, but rather to dwell for a while on the apostle's special admonition about:

ENDURING HARDSHIP AS A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST.

My friends, this admonition is very profitable and necessary. How many an inexperienced young man does not enter the ministry with the best of intentions about fighting the battle in the armor of God, with the highest expectations of successful progress. In his mind's eye he sees how larger and larger crowds will flock around his pulpit, how opponents will be convinced and fall at his feet, how the erring will let themselves be straightened out, sinners converted and forsaking the broad way, the troubled letting them-selves be comforted, how the entire congregation will look up to him with confidence, love and gratitude, willing and glad to let itself be led by him to the true fear of God and to be encouraged to outdo each other in every good work to the glory of God and the welfare of the church. In one word, he sees himself work-ing in his congregation in peace and quietness surrounded by children and adults, as a father by pious, obedient and happy children.

When he now begins his work and his battle and life's bitter experiences soon meet him, he sees his beautiful expectations disappointed and that so often he must live to see the exact opposite of all that which he expected should be the constant fruit of his labor. When added to this there comes a lack of proper appreciation of his honest intention, backbiting, mockery and persecution of all kinds, poverty and want, then, if he isn't prepared for "enduring this hardship," if he hasn't firmly impressed this on his heart that it is part of being a soldier of Christ "to suffer hardship," that the cross is precisely his proper trade-mark, - if he does not remember this, then even the most capable, the most zealous and the most stout-hearted will easily be tempted to grasp at carnal means and seek human ways out in order to conclude a false peace, or become fainthearted and despondent.

He begins to think: "You're not the right man here. You haven't approached the matter in the right way. You haven't used the proper weapons. You have not been arrayed in the proper armor. Otherwise it would not have gone like this. You wouldn't have had such sad experiences and not met such opposition." He begins to doubt his faith, his state of grace, or the power of the Word and God's help, and it ends perhaps with his letting down his guard, abandoning his post, giving up, and trying something which pays better. Or, what is by no means better, he continues the work of the ministry disheartened and indifferent. He works for his livelihood as a kind of machine which runs as long as it is greased. Or he makes a disgrace-ful truce with the enemy and betrays his Master and his cause.

Now, if this is not to happen, then it is very necessary that a servant and soldier of God familiarize himself with the fact that as such he must "endure hardship," so that when the rough days come upon him unexpectedly he isn't going to be confused and offended by his cross, and with it, by Christ himself

Therefore this admonition of the apostle in our text is so extremely helpful and it is extremely necessary that we earnestly take it to heart. Note, the apostle does not say: "If you have to endure hardship, then ..." No, he assumes it as taken for granted that a soldier of Christ must endure hardship, but he calls upon and admonishes Timothy now to be prepared for it and not to retreat from suffering but to take it upon himself willingly and to endure the hardship, and to endure it as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

When the soldier marches to war he knows that he has to endure hardship, that it goes along with his calling to be exposed to fatigue, to suffer from the cold and the heat, from thirst and hunger, wounds and mistreatment, imprisonment, sickness and death. And a soldier of Jesus Christ should expect an easy life in the Lord's war! No, enduring hardship is a part of his war too.

We heard above that he is concerned with routing Satan from his fortifications, that he does not have to wrestle with flesh and blood, that is, with human wisdom and might, but with the army of spiritual wick-edness in high places since it is the devil who shows himself active in the children of unbelief.

We heard also that they do not want to sit peacefully and wait for the attack. As our Lord Jesus Christ was led into the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry to be tempted by the devil, so does he also try his hand against us in order to inflict on us all the hardship, all the suffering he can.

He soon tempts us, especially in bodily and spiritual distress, to doubt concerning the divine truth, about God's faithfulness and gracious help, and in this way, to unbelief and despair, or, in unbelief, to make flesh our arm and in pride to rely upon our own knowledge, gifts and ability; soon, to despondency and faintheartedness by hindering the work in the congregation, since, in part, he arouses a lack of proper appreciation and discord, in part, seduces to error and ungodliness. He soon arouses the people's outcry, the hatred of the powerful in order to frighten the Lord's servants and to lure them into unfaithfulness, to preach to itching ears, and to seek the favor and support of the majority, the friendship of the powerful. He soon tempts them with the riches, goods and pleasures of this world and holds out the prospect of one thing: Of how much unpleasantness one can spare oneself, how easily one can make oneself the friend of everyone when one does not wrestle so conscientiously with the proclamation of the truth but cons the people, uses ambiguous expressions and adapts the Word, a little here and a little there, to the wishes of his adversaries, yes, gives the impression that in this way brotherly love shows itself at its best.

But if these attempts of the devil are in vain, if the servants of Christ stand firm against his attack, then he sets all kinds of traps in their way as he did before the Master and he pursues and torments them with the world's hatred and contempt, the lack of proper appreciation and the backbiting of false brethren, and with the breakup of and defections from the flock, or, with removal and expulsion from office.

We heard that it is the work of the Lord's servants to rebuke sin, to admonish sinners to abandon their false gods, to forsake the devil and to hold on to Christ. They are to be the salt of the earth; but this, we know, is sharp and biting. The proud, self-willed and defiant heart of man will not tolerate the humbling testimony of the truth. The correction and the prick which the testimony leaves behind in the conscience and which often disturbs men's rest and happiness, irritates them and they often pay those who bring them the most precious eternal treasures, but who like the surgeon need to use the sharp knife before they can apply the salve or pour the healing ointment into the wound, with slander, hatred and persecution.

The apostle Paul was an experienced soldier in all kinds of suffering. To the Corinthians he writes, "Even to the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure it; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the off-scouring of all things until now" (1 Co. 4:11-13).

The apostle knew what that meant; therefore this admonition to Timothy, "Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." You also, my friend, have really not yet entered into office but still you have al-ready been obliged to have the experience that is called "enduring hardship" when one will not yield but holds firm to the Word of God and "the form of sound doctrine, " (2 Ti. 1:13).5 But the more do you need both the admonition and the comfort which lie in the apostle's words, "Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ!"

You are not to go looking for suffering nor invite it. It will come in its time. But when it does come then you are not to get out of its way, but face it with hope, willingly and patiently bear it, and, as a good sol-dier of Jesus Christ hold out until God changes it. How terrible it would look for a soldier to flee because he saw the enemy approaching or to abandon the colors in the heat of battle or run from his post because of cold or rough weather or because his life was in danger! He would be treated as a cowardly wretch or disgraceful traitor, as one who went back on his word.

But how much more disgraceful would it not be, if we who fight under the banner of The Most High, who have Jesus Christ himself for our Commander, who strive for the Gospel's cause, not for a corruptible crown but for the incorruptible crown of life, if we, I say, would forsake the Lord's cause, leave our post and flee as hirelings! It would surely be the most shameful treachery against the Lord who redeemed us, and against his redeemed flock.

No, endure hardship, as it becomes a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The apostle has himself given us an excellent example of this. "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed, but though our outward man per-ish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day" (2 Co. 4:8.9.16). Scripture also says about the Savior that he came to his own but his own received him not (Jo. 1:11). He had no place where he could lay his head (Mt. 8:2O). In his final suffering he had to suffer the fact that all forsook him (Mk. 14:5O). But he bore the suffering patiently, as a lamb which is led to slaughter (Is. 53:7). He held out and worked while it was day (Jo. 9:4) and then finally he trod the winepress alone (Is. 63:3).

Follow that example! You will perhaps find now and then that your work for the conversion of sinners is met with indifference and coldness, that your striving for the building up and progress of the congre-gation in the knowledge and fear of God does not find the support which could be expected, yes, is per-haps counteracted especially by those in whom you had hoped to find faithful co-laborers. You see little or no fruit from your work, but that sin prevails. Willfulness and self-conceit are spreading and errors want to creep in. You are tempted to think: "They're not worth it, these ungrateful people! I will shake off the dust from my feet and be on my way!" Or you get to thinking to yourself: "It's your fault. You don't have the necessary ability, the right gifts, etc. It's best that you give up your place to a more capable man." Or doubts about the power of the Word arise in you and the temptation to seek that which you think the Word is not able to accomplish, attained through other means, for example, through bazaars, societies and lotteries to get people to make the contributions which the love of God and the preaching of his Word cannot bring them to do, or by means of Methodistic prayer-meetings, anxious benches or so- called new strategies or through one's own works, to bring about the conversion which alone is the work of the Spirit through the Means of Grace, or finally, through the preaching of the Law to want to work the true fear of God which alone is the fruit of the faith which is worked through the Gospel, etc

But brethren! instead of all this, Scripture says, "Endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry!" (2 Ti. 4:5). Let the thought of your own frailty serve to make you properly humble so that the power of God can be made perfect in your weakness! But comfort yourself with this that "the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes," (Ro. 1:16) that the Word, however often it is still refused and despised, however, never returns void, but as the rain and the snow water the earth and make it fruitful, says the Lord, "so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Is. 55:1O.11). It is up to us to plant and to water but for God to give the growth.

Your honest intentions are perhaps misjudged, you are slandered and made fun of, and confidence in your honesty and integrity is undermined. It hurts deeply, but the Word which assures you of God's grace and friendship keeps you on your feet. You say with Paul, "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a man's judgment," (1 Co. 4:3) and thus you go calmly on your course further "by good report and evil report, by honor and dishonor" (2 Co. 6:8).

Yes, you perhaps live to see that you are denounced because of your faith, because you are not willing to yield a tittle of the Word of God you are ousted6 and exposed to poverty and need. There can then be suf-ficient temptation for you to bitterness, hatred and revenge, or, desponding, to give up everything. But in the Word you have found a solid rock to stand upon. It gives power to endure hardship and to hold out. It hurts you deeply to see such great blindness or wickedness among them who want to pass for children of God because you know the Lord has said, "He who despises you despises me" (Lk. 1O:16). But you will not be ashamed of our Lord's testimony but will endure hardship with the Gospel through the power of God. You comfort yourself knowing that the Lord says, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for right-eousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Mt. 5:1O-12). So you go your way cheerfully, glad that people cannot, however, take your Jesus and the kingdom of heaven from you; and you sing with the poet:

Thy way and all thy sorrows,

Give thou into His hand,

His gracious care unfailing,

Who doth the heavens command;

Their course and path He giveth

To clouds and air and wind;

A way thy feet may follow,

He, too, for thee will find.

The church's need oppresses you. You see that it has happened as the apostle predicts: "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (2 Ti. 4:3.4). You see errors increasing, enemies swarming up from all sides, storms howling and the waves pounding sky-high around the ship of the church and threatening it with destruction while most of the people onboard stand by like indifferent on-lookers, or, confused, run here and there. You, however, will not be disheartened nor despair concerning truth's victory. You know that Israel's Watchman is not sleeping, that he is with you in the ship, and that one, "Lord, save us, we perish!" (Lk. 8:24) awakens him who still commands the wind and the sea, and they are calm. And you say:

Well I know, that the Church of God shall sail,

And as though lost, must oft the fear bewail

The 'whelming waves will it sink;

Yet, I am glad, And by the faith am cheered,

That in His Church's ship Jesus Himself did step;

Crash 'gainst it, O, wind and waves,

Beat with all your might its sides,

It is never going to sink!

Because it has the promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Mt. 16:18). Satan rushes in upon you with severe temptations whether you do after all possess the necessary ability for the difficult work or whether you have not misunderstood your calling. You feel so unworthy of so holy a work. Yes, your state of grace is made doubtful for you because of frequently recurring weaknesses and slips, and the depth of sin of which you are more and more aware in your heart. Your sins reach over your head. They have become a heavy burden for you. But especially do you dread the future, how you are going to remain constant in the great falling away. The enemies' number increases. One after the other of your friends for-sakes the colors. And what is your own strength and ability in comparison with the enemies' wisdom and cunning?

How are you to keep out the gnawing anxiety, withstand the growing power, avoid the threatening danger? "Do not fear, little flock," Scripture says then, "for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!" (Lk. 12:32). He, the great God, has, however, redeemed you and called you that you shall become one with him in suffering, but then also in glory! He who has begun the good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ (Ph. 1:6). Therefore, grasp again the shield of faith with which you can quench the fiery darts of the wicked one and sing boldly:

Who will now accuse me

And for judgment drag me

Off to Sinai?

Sin I am confessing,

And to Jesus turning,

Free in Him am I.

Meet me, then, at Golgotha!

He shall plead there my case for me.

Who will then accuse me ?

Who will then condemn me

When I do immerse me  

Deep in Jesus' blood;

All the world over,

Will God's judgment go then:

"This man, he is free,

He is washed in Jesus' blood;"

Satan, sin and death then must flee ;

Who will then condemn me?

Thus the suffering brings you comfort through the Gospel so that you can the better comfort others with the comfort wherewith you yourself are comforted (2 Co. 1:4). Thus strengthened anew in faith, you rely alone upon him and his powers who sits on high at the right hand of majesty but who has promised, "I will be with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Mt. 28:2O). And you say hopefully: "Whom shall I fear? If God is for me, who can be against me?" (Ps. 27:1; Ro. 8:31). As you know that he will direct all things for the best and do all things well, so are you certain that "he is able to keep what I have committed to him until that day" (2 Ti. 1:12). Thus, instead of letting yourself be frightened by afflictions, losing heart and giving up, you learn by "enduring hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" to "glory in tribulations" because you know that "tribulation works patience; and patience, experience; and experience hope; and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us!" (Ro. 5:3-5).

Thus ever striving after being arrayed in the full armor of God, armed with the shield of faith, the hel-met of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, you will be able to hold your position against every enemy and beat back his attack. Yes, even when it can seem darkest and as if errors were going to triumph and the truth succumb, then you, however, sing fearlessly:

Still must they leave God's word its might,

For which no thanks they merit;

Still is He with us in the fight,

With His good gifts and Spirit.

And should they, in the strife,

Take kindred, goods, and life,

We freely let them go,

They profit not the foe;

With us remains the kingdom.

And when you thus have fought the good fight, finished the course and kept the faith, then you can also add cheerfully with the apostle, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day" (2 Ti. 4:7.8). Therefore, my friend, 'endure hard-ship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." To that end may God grant you his grace through Jesus Christ!

And with this, then, have I also wished for you, dear congregation, in this young man whom you have called to be your pastor, the best gift from God. May he give you grace to receive him as such!

May the Lord bless his coming in and his going out among you, so that he may save both himself and you! Amen.

Kirketidende, April 25, 1884, pages 257-266