STAND UP FOR JESUS!

In 1858, Rev. Dudley Tyng was a powerful young preacher in Philadelphia. Besides being pastor of his congregation he often held noonday services at the downtown YMCA that attracted large crowds, mostly men on their lunch hour.

On March 30, over 5,000 men gathered to hear his message from Exodus 30:11, "Ye that are men, now go and serve the Lord."  Over 1,000 of those present that day committed their lives to Jesus.

At one point in his sermon, Pastor Tyng said, "I would rather that this right arm were amputated than that I should fall short of my duty to you in delivering God's message." The next day, while visiting people in the country, Pastor Tyng was watching a corn-threshing machine. Raising his arm to pet an animal, his clothing was caught in the machine and his right arm was badly mangled. A few days later it was amputated due to gangrene, and in those days of little medicine, this injury proved to be fatal.

A reporter recorded that on his deathbed, young Pastor Tyng took his father's hand and said, "Stand up for Jesus - tell all you meet to stand up for Jesus." The following Sunday Pastor Tyng's colleague, Rev. George Duffield, preached his morning sermon as a tribute to his departed friend. His text was Ephesians 6:14, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth around your waist." 

He concluded by reading a poem he had written based on Tyng's final words. Later set to music, these words have been sung around the world as a challenge to Christians everywhere. At his deathbed, Pastor Dudley Tyng preached to a far wider audience than he ever did during his lifetime.

"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!

"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."

Courageous people will stand up for that which is important to them, whether for their families, their rights, their country or their beliefs. God's Word calls Christians to stand up for Jesus. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may all who hear this message do so with courage and unfaltering commitment. 

Especially in this time of testing, stand up and be counted for Jesus!