Eph 6:10 -12 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.
I love Christian music. Some days I listen to Bethel and other contemporary worship groups. J.J and I went to a Southern Gospel concert a couple of weeks ago and it was a wonderful night. There was such a sweet spirit in the place and as the song goes we knew that it was the Spirit of the Lord. If the Holy Spirit gave someone the song, I like it. So, I see no need for so called worship wars.
One of my favorite things that the Lord lets me do is to go to Life House in Winfield every Monday. One of the residents there plays the piano. And she likes to play a lot of the traditional hymns. I am a joyful noise singer. I love to sing in worship. I like to share with the residents there that there were some times I wanted to get on the stage at some nightclubs and sing with the band, but I knew the bouncer would throw me out. When I started singing in the choir I thought that I might get thrown out, but the Holy Spirit said that is where I should have been in the first place.
Well back to my main point. The resident that likes to play the piano picked out a song for me to sing this past Monday. The song was Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus by George Duffield Jr. ! I couldn’t remember the last time that I had sung that song. As she was playing, and I was singing tears began to form in my eyes.
Let’s look at the verses in that song:
- Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Isn’t it an honor to be a soldier of the cross? Isn’t it a blessings to know that every foe of the Lord Jesus Christ will be vanquished one day? It helps me to recall these passages in Re 19:20 “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And Re 20:10 “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Every foe of the Lord Jesus Christ vanquished!
The following line from verse two says: “Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.” That reminds me that there are times specially in the season that we live in that we need to ask the lord for courage and strength . We are told in Jos 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” He is with us, and He will give us the courage and the strength that we need.
In verse 3 we are reminded that we can’t walk in the flesh:
“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, and watching unto prayer,
Where calls the voice of duty, be never wanting there.”
Putting of the full armor of God is the Scriptural backbone of this song. We are instructed in Ephesians 6:11-18 on how to put on the Full Armor of God. My friend and Brother in Christ Jackie Isom first told me about that in 1991. Jackie has now gone to be with the Lord. But everyday to the best of my knowledge since he told me that I put it on every day. I wouldn’t want to try to walk out this journey with Jesus Christ without doing it.
In verse four we are encouraged to continue faithful in this battle which is not against flesh and blood:
“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 him that overcometh a crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.”
One day we will get a crown. Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. The battle is raging, but it will be worth it, Col 3:23,24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. We will live and reign with Him forever and ever :
Re 22:3-5 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
The battle gets challenging and sometimes the fleshly scoreboard might look like we are losing. But we are not bound by the world’s scoreboard. We are marching to Zion! And what a victory lies ahead for us!
Let Us Pray
Lord we thank You that You have given us the Full Armor of God to put on daily. We thank You that You have paid the price and sent the Holy Spirit to help us to walk in victory as the battle rages. Lord we thank You for the songs from all of the Christian writers old ones, and new ones. Thank You for the encouragement that they give us. Help us to walk in victory today.
In Jesus Name
Amen
J.J. and I thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement in the ministry that God has called us to.
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston
PS For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night. That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16.
Please pray for the Lord to reach the lost through these broadcasts, and to encourage the faithful.
Preston Headrick
Evangelist
Real Party Ministry
P O Box 2302
Hamilton, Alabama 35570
Real Party Ministry 