Xanthe Hancox
Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.Ephesians 6:13-15
In the spring of 1858 revival broke out in Philadelphia, USA. Rev Dudley Tyng, an Episcopalian minister, soon came to be recognised as the leader of this revival. He was a dynamic preacher who was heavily criticised for speaking up against slavery.
On Tuesday, 13 April 1858 Rev Tyng went to the barn to check on his mule which was driving a machine that shelled corn. As he patted down the animal, the sleeve of his gown got caught in the cogs of the machine and his arm was severely injured. The arm was amputated but the wound became septic and Tyng died the following week.
Before he died, however, he gave a message to those who had participated with him in the revival work: “Let us all stand up for Jesus.”
On the Sunday following Tyng's death, his friend George Duffield preached a sermon on Ephesians 6:14 as a tribute to the final words of his friend. He concluded his sermon with a six-stanza poem. Duffield's Sunday School superintendant printed copies of the poem, one of which 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 the hymn we still sing today.
Despite its militaristic imagery and language, the connection to worldy battles was not the author’s intent. Christians have often sung soldier songs, because, as God tells us in Ephesians 6 and elsewhere, our lives in Christ are a fight for faith in the midst of spiritual enemies. We are called to stand in the strength he supplies.
If you’ve been Christian for any length of time you’ll know that it’s not always easy to stand up for Jesus. It requires you to be strong. And in order for you to be strong, you must put on faith, righteousness, and salvation. You must take your strength from the gospel which is the Word of God and last, but not least, you must pray.
Will you? Will you pray, will you be faithful, will you trust in the Lord and stand up for Jesus?
Prayer: Lord, help me to stand up for you when to do so makes me unpopular, lonely and ridiculed. Thank you for equipping me with armour to be able to stand strong.
You can listen to the song here: