Hymn Story, on JESUS CALLS US, by William Petersen

Most of the hymns that Cecil Alexander wrote were written for children, and many of her best children’s hymns were written before she was twenty years old.

When Cecil was thirty-two, she married William Alexander, a parish minister in an impoverished rural area of Northern Ireland. She loved the people. One writer says, “From one house to another, from one bed of sickness to another, from one sorrow to another she went.” Another describes her life this way: “Day after day she rode over the wet moorlands in all weathers, carrying food, warm clothing, medical supplies to the impoverished and sick.”  

One day her husband asked her to write a hymn for adults. He would be preaching on the call of Andrew by Jesus on the shores of Galilee, and he needed a hymn to go along with his sermon. So, she wrote “Jesus Calls Us,” a simple hymn with a powerful application. It was one of the few hymns that she wrote for adults.

Scriptures: Exodus 3:10-12; Matthew 4:18-20; Luke 9:23
Themes: Discipleship, Dedication, Service

Lyrics of the Hymn:

Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult
Of our life’s wild, restless sea,
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, “Christian, follow Me.” 

Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying, “Christian, love Me more.” 

In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love Me more than these.”

Jesus calls us: by Thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to Thine obedience,
Serve and love Thee best of all.

By CECIL FRANCES ALEXANDER (1818–1895)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 342-343). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Hymn Story, on MY FAITH HAS FOUND A RESTING PLACE, by William Petersen

The pioneering radio preacher Donald Grey Barnhouse used to ask, “When you get to the pearly gates and God asks, ‘What right do you have to come into my Heaven?’ what will you say?” This song is an answer to that question. Some might flash their church membership cards or dangle their perfect-attendance Sunday school pins before the Master.  

Some might spout the theology they have learned or present their résumés packed with good deeds. “You should let me in because I would be an asset to your community. I would sing alto in your choir, and I could help out with the youth group.”  

But God does not run heaven like a country club or a successful corporation. We cannot get in on our own qualifications. The door is barred to all who try to earn their entry. But it swings wide open for the simple saint who affirms in faith, “I need no other argument, / I need no other plea; It is enough that Jesus died, / And that He died for me.”

Scriptures: John 6:37-39; Titus 3:4-7; 1 John 5:13

Themes: Faith, Assurance, Trust

Lyrics of the Hymn:

My faith has found a resting place— 
Not in device or creed:
I trust the Ever-Living One— 
His wounds for me shall plead.

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea; 
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves—
This ends my fear and doubt; 
A sinful soul I come to Him— 
He’ll never cast me out.

My heart is leaning on the Word— 
The written Word of God: 
Salvation by my Savior’s name— 
Salvation through His blood.

My great Physician heals the sick— 
The lost He came to save; 
For me His precious blood He shed— 
For me His life He gave. 
By ELIZA EDMUNDS HEWITT (1851–1920)

Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 617-618). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Hymn Story, on STEPPING IN THE LIGHT, by William Petersen

There are at least two reasons why Eliza Hewitt wrote this gospel song. As a thirty-six-year-old schoolteacher in Philadelphia, she was struck with a heavy slate by one of her students and suffered severe spinal injuries. After being confined to her home throughout the winter, she was permitted by her doctor to take short walks outside during the spring.  

Being able to get out into the spring sunshine did much for her spirits. It also was an inspiration for her songwriting. It was then that she wrote “There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today” and, two years later, “Stepping in the Light.” You can imagine the delight she felt as she took each slow step in the sunshine. “How beautiful to walk,” she writes, and it was especially beautiful for her.

A second reason behind this song is that during her convalescence she spent time studying the promises of God in Scripture. “Live as people of light,” Paul told the Ephesians, “and carefully determine what pleases the Lord.” Eliza spent a long time “trying to walk.”

Scriptures: Ephesians 5:8-9; Colossians 2:6; 1 John 1:7
Themes: Light, Obedience, Christlikeness

Lyrics of the Hymn:

Trying to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Trying to follow our Savior and King;
Shaping our lives by His blessed example,
Happy, how happy, the songs that we bring.  

How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Stepping in the light, stepping in the light;
How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior, led in paths of light. 

Pressing more closely to Him who is leading,
When we are tempted to turn from the way;
Trusting the arm that is strong to defend us,
Happy, how happy, our praises each day. 

Walking in footsteps of gentle forbearance,
Footsteps of faithfulness, mercy, and love,
Looking to Him for the grace freely promised,
Happy, how happy, our journey above. 

Trying to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Upward, still upward we’ll follow our Guide;
When we shall see Him, “the King in His beauty,”
Happy, how happy, our place at His side.

By ELIZA EDMUNDS HEWITT (1851–1920)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 190-191). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Hymn Story, on ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS' NAME, by William Petersen

E. P. Scott, a missionary to India, saw an unusual-looking tribesman on the street, and he asked where the man came from. He was told that the man was from a mountain tribe and came only once a year to the major city to trade. Scott also discovered that the gospel had never been taken to that tribe.

After praying about it, he packed up his bags and violin and started in the direction of the mountain village. When Scott told senior missionaries where he was going, they told him, “We will never see you again. It is madness for you to go.” But he went anyway.  

He traveled for two days and finally found himself in the mountains. Suddenly he was surrounded by spear-carrying tribesmen, and every spear was pointed at him. Not knowing what else to do, Scott got out his violin and sang and played “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” including the verse, “Let every kindred, ev’ry tribe, / On this terrestrial ball, / To Him all majesty ascribe, / And crown Him Lord of all.”

The spears had now dropped from the men’s hands, and he could see tears in their eyes. He spent the next two-and-a-half years telling them about Jesus and his love for them. When Scott had to leave them because of his health, the tribespeople escorted him forty miles to where he could get other transportation.  

Scriptures: Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 1:15-20; Revelation 5:11-13; Revelation 19:11-13, 16
Themes: Praise, Jesus as Lord, God’s Majesty  

Lyrics of the Song:

All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all! 

Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all;
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all!

Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all;
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all!

O that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all;
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all! 

By EDWARD PERRONET (1726–1792) Altered by John Rippon (1751–1836)

 Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 6-7). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

OVERCOMING FEAR!

Yesterday, I had the joy and privilege of preaching at the Tulsa International Baptist Church on “Overcoming Fear.” Several members of the church told me that it was a timely message. During the preaching, I sensed the Lord was speaking to His people through the message that was translated into Chinese. In fact, three individuals came to the front of the church requesting for prayer when we did the Altar Call. As I prayed for them, I trust the Lord met them at the points of their needs. Afterwards, I also got an opportunity to talk with two others who found the message encouraging. I will stay in touch with them for continued encouragement. To God be the glory!

Below is the outline of the sermon I preached yesterday. Please leave a comment on this post if it is a blessing to you.

Sermon title and text:

“OVERCOMING FEAR” 

“Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
(Isaiah 41:10, NKJV)

Central Idea:

FAITH, accompanied with the Word, prayer, and love, OVERCOMES FEAR

 Points to Ponder:

A.     Overcoming Fear with Faith in God’s Word

1. “365 ‘Fear Nots’ in the Bible,” e.g. Joshua 1:5-9; Isaiah 35:4; Daniel 10:19; Jeremiah 10:17, etc.

2. An intake of God’s Word eliminates Fear (cf. Romans 10:17) 

B.     Overcoming Fear with Faith in Prayer

1. “The Word of God produces faith that makes prayer dynamic and vital.” Taken from Jim Cymbala’s DVD teaching titled, “When God’s People Pray”

2. James 5:16b, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (NLT)

C.      Overcoming Fear with Faith and Perfect Love

1. “...perfect love casts out all fear” (cf. I John 4:17-18)--

“17And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” (NLT)

2. When we seek the Lord, He delivers us from all our fears (cf. Psalm 34:4)--

“I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
    He freed me from all my fears.” (NLT).

Conclusion:

FAITH, accompanied with the Word, prayer, and love, OVERCOMES FEAR. Therefore, without God’s Word which is “the sword of the Spirt” (Ephesians 6:17), we have nothing to draw and defend ourselves from fear. Similarly, without prayer, our lifeline to God, we have no way to seek for God’s deliverance from fear and we will be dragged away into Satan's den of fear. Lastly, without a perfect love relationship between us and the Lord, we give the devil a foothold through which he can bombard us with fear.Though we don’t know what the future holds, for instance, we know Jesus who holds the future. We, therefore, don't have to fear the future. Instead, let us trust Jesus with our future and everything else about our lives. When fear knocks at the door, let us send faith to answer the door. 

"²⁴May the Lord bless you
    and protect you.²⁵ May the Lord smile on you
    and be gracious to you.²⁶ May the Lord show you his favor
    and give you his peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)