IF YOU WANT JOY

          "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23.

           Joy is one of those things that everyone would like to have.  And folks try to find it in so many wrong ways … Possessions, parties, relationships, money, investments  … are just some of the ways that people try.  But none of these can provide real joy for joy is a fruit of the spirit and comes only in knowing the Lord.

          And that is the truth shared in this chorus. "If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, let Jesus come into your heart."

          Joseph D. Carlson penned the words and music of this classic chorus in 1939.  Before he was converted he conducted a dance orchestra in Minnesota.  But after his conversion he wrote these words as his personal testimony. 

          Carlson became primarily interested in evangelism and missions and made annual visits to mission fields. He served as Executive Director of International Christian Ministries and of the Mission to Children, Inc. and he conducted a daily radio ministry.

          Personally, as I have been involved for decades ministering to children, this chorus was one that we often used to share the gospel.  There were others that also shared about joy – "I have the joy, joy, joy down in my heart", "Joy is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart when the king is in residence there", "Jesus, and Others and You, what a wonderful way to spell joy" – but Carlson's chorus really shared the Gospel in a simple and powerful way.

        "Your sins He'll wash away, your night He'll turn to day, your life He'll make it over anew.  If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, let Jesus come into your heart."

          Are you looking for real joy in your life?  If you are, then Jesus is your only answer.  Let Him come into your heart today.  Don't delay. 

 

If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy,

Let Jesus come into your heart;

If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy,

Let Jesus come into your heart.

Your sins He'll wash away,

Your night He'll turn to day,

Your life He'll make it over anew;

I you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy,

Let Jesus come into your heart.

 

Listen to it here.   JOY

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GztK6U95y6Q

HOLY BIBLE BOOK DIVINE

          Robert Raikes, an Anglican layman, is credited with founding the Sunday School movement in England.  His heart went out to the ragged children of the slum, worn down by slave labor, running wild and exposed to all kinds of vice.  There were no state schools of any kind and most children could not even read.

          Mr. Raikes believed that a good education would give children a much better start in life, so he started a school.  His "Sunday School" began in the kitchen of a home, in Gloucester, in July of 1780.  At first it was for boys only, but soon girls came too.  Since the children worked in factories six days a week, his school was held on Sundays.

          One of the first questions the founders of Sunday Schools had to answer was, "What shall we teach?"  Some thought it best to have the children memorize catechisms (principles of Christian doctrine in the form of questions and answers). But Raikes and a young Sunday School teacher named John Burton simply taught the Bible. And, if they needed to teach children to read, they used the Bible to do that, too.
          Burton (1773-1822) played a major role in this new movement.  He believed that music could be used to teach the Gospel to these children.  He wrote and published songs for the Sunday School, and music greatly helped in the teaching and training of those who attended. Committing songs such as this one to memory enabled illiterate children to get their first grasp on eternal truth. 
            Burton was one of the compilers of the Nottingham Sunday School Union Hymn Book in 1812.  This book reached the 20^th edition in 1861.  The first edition contains 43 hymns which have his signature.  But Burton is really known for this week's hymn choice, Holy Bible, Book Divine.
            I can almost hear the children singing this hymn on Sundays and throughout the week.  They would learn that the Bible is a book divine, a precious treasure.  They would learn that the Bible shows a Savior's love.  It  also shares a living faith.  And it tells of joys to come.
          What wonderful truths for these children to learn.  But even greater is the fact that these truths are ours as well.  Precious treasure, thou art mine!  Be reminded of this as you sing these words this week.

1      Holy Bible, book divine,

Precious treasure, thou art mine;

Mine to tell me whence I came,

Mine to teach me what I am:

2      Mine to chide me when I rove;

Mine to show a Savior's love;

Mine thou art to guide and guard;

Mine to punish or reward;

3      Mine to comfort in distress,

Suffering in this wilderness;

Mine to show by living faith,

Man can triumph over death;

4      Mine to tell of joys to come,

And the rebel sinner's doom;

O thou holy book divine,

Precious treasure, thou art mine.

Listen to it here.    BIBLE

STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS (TH)

TIMELESS HYMNS - A feature where I choose a previous log, revise and edit it, and share it once again.  This hymn was first featured here on June 17, 2012.

           Christians around the globe are locked in a rapidly expanding spiritual battle against evil.  Satan is pulling out all stops in his drive to destroy Christians.  In many countries today Christians are being severely persecuted and killed.  Many are fleeing for their lives.  Closer to home the battle takes on different forms as Christians are being slandered and mocked.  Our rights to express the truth and to share the Gospel are under attack.  

           But many Christians continue to live as though nothing is happening.  It is time for all believers to wake up, step up, and stand up for Jesus.  It is He who will be the final victor and we need to be His soldiers. 

          Episcopalian Reverend Dudley A. Tyng (1825-1858) was a dynamic preacher known for taking strong stands against evil, no matter what the cost. His sermon regarding the evils of slavery in America is still in print today. It resulted in him being removed from one of his pulpits.  

          In 1858, Tying preached a sermon on Exodus 10:11, "Go now ye that are men and serve the Lord" to an audience of about 5,000. More than 1,000 of those men responded to the altar call, to receive Jesus as their Savior. Just over a week later, Tying lay dying as a result of a tragic accident and his final whispered statement was "Let us all stand up for Jesus." 

          The following Sunday  Pastor George Duffield (1818-1888) preached a sermon on Ephesians 6:14, as a tribute to the final words of his friend Tying. He concluded his sermon with a six-stanza poem. Printed copies of the poem were distributed to all the congregation.  

          One of the pamphlets fell into the hands of the editor of a Baptist periodical. The editor was so impressed with the verses that he printed them in his widely read publication. The poem Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus, has since become one of the most recognized hymns in all English-speaking Christendom.  

          Are you ready to take your stand and join the battle?  With Christ as the leader, victory is assured.  Stand up for Jesus!

(1)   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.

(2)  Stand up, stand up for Jesus, 

the solemn watchword hear;

If while ye sleep He suffers, 

away with shame and fear;

Where'er ye meet with evil, 

within you or without,

Charge for the God of battles, 

and put the foe to rout.

(3)   Stand up, stand up for Jesus, 

the trumpet call obey;

Forth to the mighty conflict, 

in this His glorious day.

Ye that are brave now serve Him 

against unnumbered foes;

Let courage rise with danger, 

and strength to strength oppose.

(4)  Stand up, stand up for Jesus, 

stand in His strength alone;

The arm of flesh will fail you, 

ye dare not trust your own.

Put on the Gospel armor, 

each piece put on with prayer;

Where duty calls or danger, 

be never wanting there.

(5)  Stand up, stand up for Jesus, 

each soldier to his post,

Close up the broken column, 

and shout through all the host:

Make good the loss so heavy, 

in those that still remain,

And prove to all around you 

that death itself is gain.

(6)    Stand up, stand up for Jesus, 

the strife will not be long;

This day the noise of battle, 

the next the victor's song.

To those who vanquish evil 

a crown of life shall be;

They with the King of Glory 

shall reign eternally.

Listen to it here.     LISTEN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79FT7kJpZ1g

CHRIST RECEIVETH SINFUL MEN

          While writing these hymn blogs I've often reminisced about my experiences growing up.  Once again I am reminded of many Sunday night services which featured hymns and enthusiastic singing.  I miss those experiences.

          This week's hymn choice is one that I enjoyed singing in those services.  I enjoyed the back time which was often sung by the men.  But even more I enjoyed the message that Christ receives sinful men.  And I was one of those sinful men.  Praise the Lord!

          This song was written by Erdmann Neumeister, (1671-1756), pastor of a Lutheran Church in Hamburg, Germany, in 1718.  Neumeister was well known in his day as an earnest and eloquent preacher, as a vehement upholder of High Lutheranism, and as a keen controversialist against the Pietists and the Moravians by means of the pulpit as well as the press.  He wrote about 650 hymns and  is considered the originator of the church cantata.
            Neumeister wrote this hymn to be sung at the end of a sermon on Luke 15:2. That verse tells about the Pharisees and scribes grumbling, "This man (meaning Jesus) receives sinners and eats with them."
         About 150 years later, Emma Bevan, (1827-1909), a British woman who was the wife of a prominent banker and was fluent in German, translated this old hymn into English.
          Another step that brought this hymn to us came about 30 years later, when James McGranahan (1840-1907), who pioneered developing men's choirs in church services, took this hymn and gave it a lilting tune men would like to sing. It is also one of those odd hymns that changes timing between verses and the chorus.
          The chorus exultantly encourages us to proclaim this good news of salvation from sin through Christ to the whole world.
          Though this hymn has gone through a few changes since it was first written about 300 years ago, the message has remained the same. Jesus still receives sinful men – and sinful women.  And I, as a sinful man myself, am so glad He does!  As Christians, we should be thankful that Christ was willing to receive us and then we should spread the good news to others that "Christ Receiveth Sinful Men.

1    Sinners Jesus will receive: 

Sound this word of grace to all 

Who the heav'nly pathway leave, 

All who linger, all who fall.

Chorus:

Sing it o'er 

(Sing it o'er again) 

and o'er again:

(Sing it o'er again:)

Christ receiveth 

(Christ receiveth sinful men) 

sinful men. 

(Christ receiveth sinful men) 

Make the message 

(Make the message clear and plain) 

clear and plain: 

(Make the message clear and plain)

Christ receiveth sinful men

2    Come, and He will give you rest; 

Trust Him, for His word is plain; 

He will take the sinfulest; 

Christ receiveth sinful men. [Chorus] 

3    Now my heart condemns me not, 

Pure before the law I stand; 

He who cleansed me from all spot 

Satisfied its last demand. [Chorus] 

4    Christ receiveth sinful men, 

Even me with all my sin; 

Purged from ev'ry spot and stain, 

Heav'n with Him I enter in. [Chorus]

Sing along with it here.     RECEIVETH