Stand Up!

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Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. — Ephesians 6:10-12

After leading a citywide evangelistic meeting in Philadelphia in 1958, twenty-nine year old Episcopalian preacher Dudly Tyng, was overjoyed in seeing some five thousand men come together for morning and evening services in churches, convention halls and theaters throughout the city. In just three days, over a thousand responded to the gospel invitation. But then tragedy struck as Dudly was fatally injured in a accident. As he lay dying in the hospital, his fellow ministers gathered around him as he whispered his last words, while thinking of the men who had made decisions for Christ. “Tell them to stand up for Jesus!” The next Sunday the popular hymn, “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” was sung for the first time, written by Presbyterian minister George Duffield, who was one of those in attendance at his death. You probably have sung it many times yourselves:

“Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey; forth to the mighty conflict in this glorious day: Ye that are men, now serve Him against unnumbered foes; let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.”

A short time after my wife and I gave our hearts to Jesus, we heard for the first time some of the great hymns of the church. This was one of them. They were all stirring to our newly saved souls and challenged us to considered God’s call to ministry and service for the rest of our lives, wherever that should lead us—and we did. Here we are, almost fifty years later, and those hymns still excite our hearts and challenge our spirits.

As I write this to you, I know that many of your hearts are heavy as we view the destruction that is taking place in America. We all know what they are. What a need we have for revival and healing. I believe the true church, that has always been countercultural, as well as the conscience of the culture, is the key. We’re in a spiritual battle unlike any most of us have ever seen (Ephesians 6:10-18). The question is, will we “Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus”?

I am encouraged by the movement of young people that are gathering for praise and worship services in the most troubled cities of our country and the thousands of others who are being saved and baptized in portable tanks in parks, rivers and even the ocean. I am proud of the pastors who are resisting governmental tyranny by taking strong positions in the face of threats of jail and exorbitant fines to keep their churches open. I am inspired by the thousands of prayer meetings that are being held all over America, crying out to God in intercession (2 Chronicles 7:13-14). Revival is on the way, church. We plan to be a part of it. How about you? Maranatha!

To help us walk closer to God and to know Him better

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