Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

This song’s lyrics praise and glorify God’s love and dominion over all of creation. Written by Henry Jackson Van Dyke, he speaks of the loving mercy and grace of God, as all of nature praises Him eternally.

Van Dyke was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1852, into a family of Dutch origin. His father was a prominent Presbyterian clergyman, known for his anti-abolitionist views in the pre-Civil War period.

Van Dyke was his parent’s oldest son. His younger brother, Paul, grew up to be an eminent historian and author. Of his two sons, his father once said, “Paul was born good, but Henry was saved by grace.’”

The family moved to Brooklyn, New York, where Van Dyke was enrolled at The Polytechnic Institute. Although not much is known about his boyhood days, he did not seem to be a model child.

Sometime in 1858, he met General Robert E. Lee, who took him for a ride on his horse. Later, he counted Lee among the three men who influenced him most; the others being his father, and the poet Alfred Tennyson. 

Van Dyke learned to love the natural world from his faither. But while his father tried to drive his attention to the peaceful aspect of nature, he preferred trampling energetically through the forest trail, climbing the wooded hills and fishing trout in the brooks.

Van Dyke was famous for his youthful pranks during his university days. His college scrapbook included a poster that offered a $50 reward for the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons who took the gate and damaged the fences on the Seminary and Library grounds. On the poster’s margin he wrote: “They didn’t catch us.”

He was deeply influenced by his father right from his childhood days. His father infused in him a will to uphold honor and fight for a cause. His initial ambition was to become a writer, but he later changed his mind and joined the Presbyterian Church at the age of 27.

Van Dyke served as pastor of Brick Presbyterian Church in Manhattan for seventeen years. His first sermon was titled “The Voice of God.” The sermon was about trying to hear God’s voice in nature. His love for nature always remained an important part of his faith.

He attended Princeton University, Princeton Theological Seminary and The University of Berlin. He was a professor of English literature at Princeton University. He was greatly respected and sought out both as a pastor and professor.

He married Ellen Reid of Baltimore, and they had nine children, four sons, and five daughters.

This joyful ode is one of the best-known hymns in the English language. His inspiration in writing these words was the beauty of the Berkshire Mountains. He was serving as a guest preacher at Williams College in Massachusetts.

It has been said Van Dyke handed his words, which was a poem, to the president of the college at breakfast one morning saying: “Here is a hymn for you. Your mountains were my inspiration. It must be sung to the music of Beethoven’s ‘Hymn to Joy.’”

Van Dyke died on April 10, 1933, in Princeton, New Jersey. He is buried in Princeton Cemetary.

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music.

Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany. His musical talent was obvious at an early age. He was initially harshly and intensively taught by his father. Beethoven was later taught by the composer and conductor, Christian Gottlob Neefe, under who tutelage he published his first work.

He found relief from a dysfunctional home life with the family of Helene von Breuning, whose children he loved, befriended, and taught piano. At age21, he moved to Vienna, which subsequently became his base, and gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist.

Beethoven’s personal life was marked by a struggle against deafness, and some of his most important works were composed during the last ten years of his life, when he was quite unable to hear. He died at the age of 56.

Verse One

“Joyful, joyful, we adore You, God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before You, Opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!”

Ezekiel 43:2

“And I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with His glory.”

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible:  The God of Israel is Jehovah the Father, the covenant God . . . Christ, who is the brightness of His Father’s glory, whose glory is the glory of the only begotten of the Father . . . and who has the same glorious attributes, the same glorious names, and the same worship, honor, and glory, His Father has; and in whom, as Mediator, is displayed the glory of all the divine perfections.

Bibliaplus.org: Ezekiel saw God’s glory. He did not describe God’s glory here. But it was the same as he had seen on previous occasions. He described it in Chapter 1. God’s glory was impressive. It was an astonishing experience. Even the ground was shining because God’s glory was so bright. The glory showed that God Himself was present.

 

Verse Two

“All Your words with joy surround You, Earth and heaven reflect Your rays,

Stars and angels sing around You, Center of unbroken praise;

Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flowery meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain Praising You eternally!

Psalm 104:24

“How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.”

Biblehub.com, Benson’s Commentary: How numerous, how various! Of how many kinds, and how many of every kind. Thus, “transported with a survey of the wonders which present themselves in heaven above, and on earth below, the psalmist breaks forth into an exclamation, on the variety and magnificence, the harmony and proportion, of the works of God, in this outward, and visible, and perishable world.”

Verse Three

“Thou art giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest,

Well-spring of the joy of living, Ocean-depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, All who live in love are Thine;

Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to Thy joy divine.”

Colossians 1:2

“To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.’

Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: This is the inscription of the epistle, in which the persons wrote unto are described as “saints” . . . and as “brethren”; being born of God, having Him for their Father, and being of His household, and a part of the family in heaven and earth named of Christ, and heirs together of the grace of life, and of the heavenly glory: and as “faithful” ones; true and sincere believers in Christ.”

Verse Four

“Mortals, join the mighty chorus, Which the morning stars began;

God’s own love is reigning o’er us, Joining people hand in hand.

Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife;

Joyful music leads us sunward In the triumph song of life.”

Job 38:7

"While the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: There is but one morning star, yet all may be called so, because all were created early in the morning of the world; and are all stars of light, shine till the morning; and it is observed by some, that the nearer the morning the brighter they shine: and these in their way sing the praises of God, and set forth the glory of His perfections. Or, angels, as most interpret them, compare to stars for their glory, purity, and light, for their constancy, permanency, and numbers: or good men, particularly ministers of the Word, and angels of the churches; who are stars in Christ’s right hand, but the principal morning star is Christ Himself.

 

Sing Verse One

“Joyful, joyful, we adore You, God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before You, Opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!”

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Godtube.com

UMCdiscipleship.org

Faithgateway.com

DianaLeaghMatthews.com

Thefamouspoeple.com

By His Grace . . .

Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It!

Fanny Crosby is considered the hymn queen. She wrote over 9,000 hymns. She didn’t start writing until she was 40 years old. That indeed should encourage all of us.

John and Mercy Crosby were blessed with their first child whom they named Francis Jane, but would call her Fanny. Living simply off the land, the Crosby’s were very poor financially, but rich in spiritual matters and Christian principles.

From a young age, Crosby learned about the love of God at the knee of her grandmother, who would read to her from the Bible. She taught her how to pray.

Crosby was born in 1820, in Brewster, New York. At the age of six weeks old, she caught a cold that led to inflammation in her eyes. An incompetent doctor applied a poultice to her eyes that left her blind.

 Crosby grew to be an active and happy child. From 1835 to 1843 she attended the New York Institute for the Blind in New York City. At that time, Braille was just being developed, and it would not become widespread until many decades later. Crosby never used the system.

After her graduation, Crosby remained at the Institute as a teacher of English grammar and rhetoric and of ancient history until 1858.

Fanny was given an extraordinary opportunity. Hoping to bring attention to the Institute, Fanny was sent with some students to Washington, DC to address Congress. Her stated purpose was to raise money for the school and encourage Congress to incorporate the blind into every facet of society and not dismiss them from public life.

Members in her audience the day Fanny spoke to Congress included John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, and Jefferson Davis, a senator and the future president of the Confederate States of America. In this role, Fanny became the first woman to ever formally address the Senate and Congress.

She married Alexander Van Alstyne, who was also blind and was also a former pupil and then a teacher at the school. The couple’s only child was born in 1858 and died in infancy. Although the two eventually lived apart—to follow their own career paths—they remained married until Van Alstyne’s death in 1902.

 Crosby was once asked if there was a special hymn written for her conversion experience. She replied: “I would write many hymns to describe the joy of my salvation. The one that stands out the most to me right now is this one, “Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It.”

 Some of her well-known hymns include “To God Be the Glory,” “All The Way the Savior Leads Me,” “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross,” “Rescue the Perishing,” and “Blessed Assurance.”

Crosby embraced her blindness saying, “When I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!” She saw the face of her Savior on February 12, 1915, at the age of 94.

She was the most important writer of gospel hymn texts in American history. William James Kirkpatrick, whom Crosby often teamed with for her songs, provided the music for this hymn.

Mr. Kirkpatrick was born in Ireland in 1838, but at an early age came with his parents to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania. His father was a musician. Kirkpatrick came naturally by his love and talent for music. He was for year’s director of music in Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, in Philadelphia, and organist and choirmaster many years in the Ebenezer Church.

Some of the hymns Kirkpatrick composed music for are: “A Wonderful Savior is Jesus My Lord,” “Lead Me to Calvary,” “Away in the Manger,” My Faith Has Found a Resting Place” and “Blessed Be Thy Name.” George C. Stebbins, a gospel songwriter, shared this story about Kirkpatrick:        

Verse One

"Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed through His infinite mercy,

His child and forever I am."

Titus 3:5

". . . He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."

Studylight.org, Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible: Whatever we have done or can do, when we come to receive salvation from the hand of God, there is no other element which enters into it but mercy . . . after all our tears, and sighs, and prayers, and good deeds, it is a mere favor.

Verse Two

"Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,

No language my rapture can tell;

I know that the light of His presence,

With me doth continually dwell."

Job 19:25

"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth."

Biblehub.com, Benson Commentary: I have no knowledge, nor confidence, nor hope of being restored to the prosperities of this life; yet this one thing I know, which is much more comfortable and considerable, and therein I rejoice . . . I know that I have a living and powerful Redeemer to plead my cause and vindicate my person from all severe and unjust censures, and to give sentence for me; a Redeemer, whom I call mine.

Verse Three

"I think of my blessed Redeemer,

I think of Him all the day long;

I sing, for I cannot be silent;

His love is the theme of my song."

Psalm 107:2

"Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story--those He redeemed from the hand of the foe."

Enduringword.com, David Guzik: The psalmist invited the people of God - those redeemed by His enduring mercy--to declare that they are redeemed. It would be ungrateful and wrong to be silent about so great a work.

Studylight.org, Coffman's Commentary on the Bible: No Christian has the right to remain silent with regard to the salvation that has been conferred upon him through the gospel of Christ . . . Gods saints need to be vocal about their redemption.

Verse Four

"I know I shall see in His beauty,

The King in whose law I delight;

Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,

And giveth me songs in the night."

Psalm 119:35

"Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight."

Tony Evans Commentary: The psalmist expresses his total dedication to the Lord's statues . . . He asks that God would bless such a commitment . . . He desires a life of value, not one of disgrace. Devotion to the Word can provide such a life."

Refrain

"Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb,

Redeemed, redeemed, His child and forever I am."

One of the strongest evidences for the validity of the gospel is a redeemed, vibrant life. Determine with the Holy Spirit to be such a demonstration.

Sing Refrain

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Dianaleaghmatthews.com

WomenofChristianity.com

Hymnologyarchive.com

Britannica.com; Article revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzelio

Hymnologyarchive.com; George C. Stebbins

Stanmurrell.org

 

By His Grace . . . 

I'll Fly Away!

 

Albert E. Brumley was born on a cotton farm near Spiro, Oklahoma, in 1905. He quit school after tenth grade and didn’t have much of a future to look forward to—except to pick cotton for the rest of his life.

When he was sixteen years old, he attended a singing school in his farm community of Rock Island. He could sing better than most adults and he could harmonize, too.

The medium of radio was gaining popularity as he grew up, and one of the most requested songs was a sad ballad called “If I Had the Wings of an Angel,” which said: “Now if I had the wings of an angel, Over these prison walls I would fly, I’d fly to the arms of my poor darling, And there I’d be willing to die.”

At nineteen he went to a music school in the Ozark Mountains to learn how to write music. He dropped out after a year and went back to picking cotton. One hot Oklahoma day Albert was in the fields, picking cotton and singing this song. He saw a bird flying away to a better place, and the thought of flying away suddenly seemed quite appealing to him, and he began composing “I’ll Fly Away” on the spot. He said: “I was dreaming of flying away from that cotton field when I wrote ‘I’ll Fly away.’” 

The middle verse of Albert’s song echoes the old prison ballad when it says: “When the shadows of this life have grown, I’ll fly away; Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I’ll fly away.”

It was an additional three years later until Brumley worked out the rest of the song, using prison as an analogy for earthly life. Brumley has stated, "When I wrote it, I had no idea that it would become so universally popular."

His fortunes changed when he enrolled in the Hartford Musical Institute in Hartford, Arkansas, in 1926. With nothing but $1.25 in his pocket, driven by a dream, he walked 26 miles from Spiro, Oklahoma to Hartford, Arizona. He knocked on E.M. Barlett's door and said: "Mr. Bartett, I hear you can teach a fella 'bout music."

Even though they'd never met, Bartlett took Brumley in, letting him sleep on his couch with the understanding that Albert would go to work for the Hartford Music Company after graduating.

Albert married Goldie Schell, whom he met while teaching in a singing school in Powell, Missouri. With her encouragement, albert mailed "Ill Fly Away" to the Hartford Music Company. It was published in 1932, and shortly afterward, Albert was hired by Hartford for $12.50 a month.

He spent thirty-four years writing for the Hartford and Stamps/Baxter companies before forming the Albert E. Brumley & Sons Music Company. In all, Albert wrote over 800 songs and became one of the most respected names in the development of 20th Southern gospel music.

From 1931, he spent the rest of his life in Powell, Missouri, on the banks of Big Sugar Creek with his wife. Together they raised six children.

In time, Brumley became known as the world's most recorded songwriter, but none of his songs rivaled the popularity of "I'll Fly Away."

This is perhaps the quintessential gospel song that exemplifies "theological escapism" -- escaping the toils of earth for the joy of heaven. Birds play prominently in the gospel song literature as do angels and flying. Their freedom from gravity symbolizes the freedom from pain, toil and tribulation. 

Verse One

"Some glad morning when this life is o'er,

I'll fly away;

To a home on God's celestial shore,

I'll fly away."

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

"For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

Enduringword.com, David Guzik: The manner in which Jesus will gather us to Himself is impressive. But the main point is that whatever the state of the Christians (dead or alive) at the Lord's coming, they will always be with the Lord. This is the great reward of heaven -- to be with Jesus. Death can't break out unity with Jesus or with other Christians. 

Verse Two

"When the shadows of this life have gone,

I'll fly away;

Like a bird from prison bars has flown,

I'll fly away."

Psalm 90:10

"Our days may come to seventy, or eighty, if our strength endures, yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away."

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: The afflictions of the saints often come from God's love . . . Our whole life is toilsome and troublesome . . . We are taught by all this to stand in awe.

Studylight.org, Bridgeway Bible Commentary: Making the most of a short life . . . God alone is permanent and enduring, and therefore the only true security is found in Him. Human life, by contrast is short and uncertain, and is brought to an end as God decides and when He chooses. No matter how long a person lives, even to a thousand years, the number of years is insignificant compared with the timelessness of God . . . Those who love God should therefore seek God's wisdom, so that they might use their short lives in the best way possible. Since the psalmist wants to live his life wisely, he asks for God's help. Then sorrow will be replaced by joy, and his life will become one of fruitful service for God.

Verse Three

"Just a few more days and then,

I'll fly away;

To a land where joy shall never end,

I'll fly away."

Psalm 55:6

"I said, 'Oh, that I had wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.'"

Studylight.org, Bridgeway Commentary: Overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness, David fears that death is upon him. He wishes that he could escape from it all. He would like to fly away like a bird, so that he could find a quiet place where he could shelter from the storm . . . In his distress, David turns to God and his faith awakens. He knows that God will save those who trust in Him, and overthrow those who deliberately ignore Him . . . He decides finally that the only way to be relieved of the burden on his mind is to turn it over to God. He is confident that God will look after the righteous and punish the wicked.

Refrain

"I'll fly away, Oh Glory,

I'll fly away;

When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,

I'll fly away."

One cannot deny the sheer fun of singing "I'll Fly Away" with its rousing melody. It has been called the most recorded gospel song, and it is frequently used in worship services. It appears in many hymnals where it is listed under the topics of eternal life, heaven an acceptance. It is a stand song at bluegrass jam sessions and is often performed at funerals.

By His Grace . . .

I am indebted to the following resources:

Robert J. Morgan, Then Sings My Soul, Special Edition

William J. Petersen and Ardythe Petersen, The Complete Book of Hymns

Godtube.com; Godtube Staff

Christianmusicand hymns.com

Umcdiscipleship.org, Dr. Hawn

DianaleaghMatthews.com

Illflyawayfoundation.org

I Am Praying For You

“Twenty-three-year-old Samuel Cluff  (Clough) of Dublin, Ireland, wrote the words to this hymn. He printed them on a leaflet and circulated the sheets to his friends at church.

Fourteen years after Cluff wrote this poem, Ira Sankey, who was the music director for evangelist Dwight L. Moody, happened to see the leaflet with Cluff’s poem. The Moody-Sankey team had just arrived in Ireland for the first time, and Ira Sankey was looking, as always, for some homegrown hymns to sing at their crusades. When Sankey saw these words, he quickly set them to music. It was the second hymn he wrote the music for. Soon they were sung not only all over Ireland, Scotland, and England but also all over America.

Cluff was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1837. He attended Trinity College and became a minister in the Anglican Church of Ireland.

He pastored at various locations in Ireland. In 1884 he became leader of the Plymouth Brethren. He married Anne Blake Edge. They had four children. He wrote poems and about 1000 songs. He composed many melodies and oratories.

Little else is known of this man who wrote the words of this hymn that has brought salvation to so many individuals.

Sankey was born in 1840, in Edinburg, Pennsylvania. He didn't grow up in a Christian home but got saved at the age of 16 at the King's Chapel, three miles from his home. The family moved to Newcastle, PA, around 1857. Sankey began leading the choir at the local Methodist Episcopal Church. His reputation as a sing drew people in to hear his voice.

In 1860, Sankey enlisted in the 12th Pennsylvania Regiment, serving for the Union in the Civil War. While in the army, he led the singing for religious services. Once his term was up, he went back to Pennsylvania, where he assisted his father at the IRS. He also began helping out at the YMCA. He married Fanny Edwards in 186t3, and she was a help to him throughout his life.

In 1870, Sankey wen to Chicago as a delegate to the YMCA convention. His singing of "There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood," attracted the attention of D. L. Moody. The following exchange took place between the two: "As I drew near Nr. Moody, he stepped forward and taking me by the hand looked at me in that keen, piercing fashion of his as if reading my very soul."

"Then he said abruptly, 'Where are you from?' 'I am a government officer. 'Well, you'll have to give it up!' I was too much astonished to make any reply and he went on as if the matter had already been decided. 'I have been looking for you for the last eight years. You'll have to come to Chicago and help me in my work.'"

I took a lot to convince Sankey, but in 1871, he agreed to spend seven days with moody in Chicago, and y the end of the week, he had resigned his IRS job and accepted the position. When asked about Sankey's contribution, Moody is reported to have said, "If we can only get people to have the words of he Love of God coming from their mouths, its well on its way to residing in their hearts."

Sankey moved his family to Chicago the next year. He and Moody sailed for England in 1873, where they toured the United Kingdom holding meetings. It was while they were in England that Reverend A.A. Rees of Sunderland coined a new phrase when he said that Sankey was "singing the gospel." Sankey's "gospel songs" caught on in Scotland, where the former practice of singing only psalms was soon disregarded, as gospel songs were added to the repertoire.

Sakey's first actual composition came in Edinburgh, as famed hymnwriter Horatius Bonar wrote a set of words for him. In 1874, he wrote his most famous, "The Ninety and Nine." He first got the idea while on a train ride from Glasgow to Edinburg, when he read the poem in a newspaper. A week later, Moody preached on the Prodigal Son and, at the end of the sermon, asked Sankey to sing a hymn. Sankey seemed to hear a voice inside telling him to sing 'The Ninety and Nine,' so he sat down at the organ and wrote the words to it.

Oher well-known hymns Sankey wrote the music too are: "the Cross of Jesus, A Shelter in the Time of Storm," "Faith is the Victory," and "Under His Wings."

Verse One

"I have a Savior, He's pleading in glory,

A dear, loving Savior, though earth-friends be few;

and now He is watching in tenderness o'er me,

but O, that my Savior were your Savior too!"

Daniel 12:3

"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."

Studylight.org, Clarke's Commentary: And they that be wise -- Those who are thoroughly instructed in Christ's word and doctrine, shall shine -- shall be eminently distinguished in the Christian Church by the holiness of their lives, and the purity of their creed . . . hey who, by preaching Christ crucified among their brethren, shall be the means of converting them to the Christian faith; shall be as the stars - bright luminaries in the Gospel kingdom of Jesus Christ. This also may be applied to the case of holy and useful men, particularly the faithful ministers of the Gospel, in the day of Judgment.

Verse Two

"I have a Father; to me He has given,

A hope for eternity, blessed and true;

And soon will He call me to meet Him in heaven,

but O, that He'd let me bring you with me, too!

Titus 1:1-2

"Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness--in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time."

Biblehub.com, Benson Commentary: Hope: The grand motive and encouragement of every apostle and every servant of God.

Biblehub.com. Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible: This is another end of the Gospel ministry, as to bring God's elect to faith in Christ, and to the knowledge and acknowledgement of the truth, as it is in Jesus, so to the hope of eternal glory and happiness: in a state of nature, they are without the grace of hope, or any true ground and foundation.

Verse Three

"I have a robe, 'tis resplendent in whiteness,

Awaiting in glory my wondering view;

O, when I receive it all shining in brightness,

Dear friend, could I see you receiving one, too!"

James 5:19-20

"My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the true and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins."

Enduringword.com, David Guzik, Spurgeon: One reason God uses human instruments is because it brings Him more glory than if He were to do His work by Himself. In this way God is like a skilled workman who makes incredible things using the worst of tools. After the same pattern, God uses earthen vessels to be containers of His glorify . . . Let us not therefore believe that God will often work without instruments; let us not sit down silently and say, 'God will do His own work.' It is quite true He will; but then He does His work by using His children as instruments.

Verse Four

"When He has found you, tell others the story,

That my loving Savior is your Savior too;

Then pray that your Savior may bring them to glory,

and prayer will be answered -- 'twas answered for you."

Colossians 4:12

"Epaphras, who is one of you, and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of god, mature and fully assured."

Studylight.org; Dr. Constable's Expository Notes: Epaphras holds the unique distinction among all the friends and co-workers of Paul of being the only one whom Paul explicitly commended for his intensive prayer ministry. The passage quoted above may well be called his diploma of success in this ministry . . . Epaphras grasped, what many of us are slow to realize, that the tactics of the Christian battle are born of the strategy of prayer . . . the humblest and least significant Christian can pray, and as 'prayer moves the Hand that moves the world,' perhaps the great power we can exert is that which comes through prayers.

Verse Five

"Speak of that Savior, that Father in heaven,

That harp, crown, and robe which are waiting for you --

That peace you possess, and that rest to be given,

Still praying that Jesus may save them with you."

Philippians 4:7

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding . . ."

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: The peace of God, the comfortable sense of being reconciled to God, and having a part in His favor, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness, are a greater good than can be fully expressed. This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and with inward satisfaction.

Refrain

"For you I am praying,

For you I am praying,

For you I an praying,

I'm praying for you."

Sankey said: "At the close of a gospel service in Evanston, Illionois, the minister was requested to visit a man who was not likely to live many days, and who was a spiritualist. Though pressed by other engagements, the minister said, 'I will take time.' He called but thought it not best to introduce the subject of religion because of the patients known hostility to evangelical views. Seeing a little organ in the room, the minister asked if he might sing a song. Consent being given, he sang 'I have a Savior, He's pleading in glory.' The sick man seemed pleased and asked the minister to sing it again. This he did, and then gave other songs. Thus, he sang the truths which he had not the courage to mention in conversation. The songs evidently accomplished their work; for when the minister called again the sick man's heart had been opened, and the truth had been savingly received through their instrumentality. 

By His Grace . . .

I am indebted to the following resources:

Hymnary.org

Hymntime.com

Christianmusichymns.blogspot.com

Baptistbiblebelievers.com

www.fee-scores.com