Welcome!  Hymns have been and continue to be a real source of inspiration to me.  My desire in this blog is to share special hymns with my readers hoping that the words will minister to them, especially in times of great personal need.  If one of these hymns ministers to you, please take time to leave a comment so that I know that my blog is helping others as much as it helps me. Sometimes I will also provide a link where you can go to hear the hymn played.  So, please join me here each week and sing along as we praise God together.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

FAITH IS THE VICTORY


Unfortunately we have all grown up knowing and experiencing the tragedy of war .  If you are old enough you will recall Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Korea and maybe even World War II.  And around the world we see new nuclear threats like North Korea and Iran and terrorism which threatens to engulf all of us.  But sometimes we fail to recognize that we are in a more serious war - a spiritual war that has been going on even before Creation.  We have an enemy, Satan, who the Bible says is like a lion seeking whom he may devour.  And we see the results of his attack as Christians are murdered, persecuted, and forced to flee their homes as they are attacked by militant Islam around the world.  But even more dangerous to us are the Satanic attacks on things like marriage, the family, God's Word and our personal lives.  And, unfortunately, Christians often live without even being aware of these attacks.   But God inspired Paul to warn us about them and to share in Ephesians 6 the spiritual armor that we are given to face, in God's strength, our spiritual foe.  And chief among these items is the "shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one".  I John 5:4 informs us that "whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." By this means, believers are protected and equipped to face Satan, the enemy of our souls. It was John Henry Yates (1837-1900) who picked up this theme and wrote the words to this week's hymn choice.  Ira D. Sankey (1840-1908) composed the melody. At about the age of twenty, Yates began writing poetry at the solicitation of his mother, and very soon his ballads and hymns were printed and sung all over the land. Yates was also a shoe salesman, a newspaper editor, and hardware store manager, until becoming a pastor in 1886. It was after this that he met Ira Sankey, D. L. Moody's song leader.  Sankey urged Yates to spend more time writing gospel hymns.  Yates later sent the musician several song-poems he'd written, and this week's hymn was one of them. Sankey, a Civil War veteran, captured the mood of the song well with a tune that seems to mimic the galloping hooves of a troop of soldiers.  So, dear friend, as you review the words of this hymn may you be reminded of the spiritual battle in which we are fully engaged.  But let us be confident that our faith and trust in the Lord, equipped with the spiritual armor, will carry us on to victory.  Faith is the victory which overcomes the world.

(1)     Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

(2)    His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God.
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind's breath,
Swept on o'er every field.
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

(3)    On every hand the foe we find
Drawn up in dread array.
Let tents of ease be left behind,
And onward to the fray.
Salvation's helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble 'neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

(4)    To him that overcomes the foe,
White raiment shall be giv'n.
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in Heav'n.
Then onward from the hill of light,
Our hearts with love aflame,
We'll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus' conqu'ring Name.
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

Listen to it being sung here.   LISTEN

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