Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/23suu9

George Duffield, Jr., had the unenviable task of preaching on the Sunday following the death of a very popular preacher. Dudley Tyng was a dynamic, bold, and very effective young preacher who was adamant that men and women needed to make their own decisions to repent and be converted. Just four weeks earlier Dudley had spoken to over 5,000 men at the noonday lectures at the YMCA in Philadelphia. Over 1,000 men responded to his sermon that day. Now the task fell to George Duffield to give the sermon following the popular young preacher’s death.

Tragic irony surrounded the death of the young preacher. During his lesson at the YMCA he remarked, “I must tell my Master’s errand, and I would rather that this right arm be amputated at the trunk, than I should come short of my duty to you in delivering God’s word.”

While working on his farm two weeks later his shirt sleeve because caught up in a corn thrasher and his arm was severely mangled. A few days later the arm had to be amputated and the following Monday he died.

The local papers reported on his last moments. They wrote, “Taking his aged father’s hand, he said with much earnestness, ‘Stand up for Jesus, father—and tell my brethren of the ministry—to stand up for Jesus.’”

I can’t imagine the pressure George Duffield felt to present that sermon the following Sunday. It must have been enormous.

He chose Ephesians 6:14-15 as his text. It reads, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

At the conclusion of his sermon he read the poem that he had written which was inspired by his friend’s dying words.

Stand up, Stand up for Jesus

Ye soldiers of the cross,

Lift high His royal banner;

It must not suffer loss;

From victory unto victory,

His army shall He lead,

Till every foe is vanquished,

And Christ is Lord indeed.

Years later Duffield heard his poem being sung by Union soldiers. It had been matched up with a tune that had been written some 30 years earlier.

I wonder what kind of parting words we might utter when our last breaths are being drawn. Would we be focused on encouraging others to stand firm in the faith and to share the gospel with many others? Or would we be more focused on the material things of our life?

Friends, the battle for the souls of millions of people still rages on. This war will not conclude until the end of the world. Each generation will face new challenges from the same enemy, Satan.

To be victorious we must be with God. To win we must be in Christ.

Paul wrote the following found in Ephesians 6:10-18.

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. Therefore take up 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 girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet 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.

On Our Daily Walk today, while in peace may we prepare ourselves for the time of war. May we always be ready to battle Satan.

Our thought for the day: “When pulling together means pulling away from God, a Christian must be willing to stand alone.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.