Soldiers of Christ, Arise

Soldiers of Christ, Arise

Who wrote the song?
Facts:
Lyricist: Charles Wesley
Lyrics Date: 1749
Key: D
Theme: Christian Warfare
Composer: George J. Elvey
Music Date: 1868

Why did they write the song?
Hymn Story:
Charles Wesley wrote "Soldiers of Christ, Arise" in 1747, originally calling it "The Whole Armor of God, Ephesians VI." With its bold and stirring message, the hymn was designed to confirm new believers.

At the time, Charles and his brother, John Wesley, had become leaders of the movement known as Methodism. The Church of England did not approve of the Methodists, however, and those associated with Methodism were persecuted. Their houses were vandalized. And even worse, Methodists were sometimes threatened, stoned, mauled, and dragged through the streets.

Given the threatening environment that most Methodists faced, Wesley no doubt thought of very real battles as he wrote "Soldiers of Christ, Arise." Yet the hymn refers to more than just physical warfare: Its more important theme refers to the spiritual warfare that all Christians face. As followers of Christ, we must put on the full armor of God, described in Ephesians 6:10–11, and always be ready to battle Satan’s forces.

Calling on Christians to fight these spiritual battles, the original version of "Soldiers of Christ, Arise" appeared in the 1749 publication Hymns and Sacred Poems. The lengthy hymn contained sixteen verses, each with eight lines. In John Wesley’s Collection of Hymns for the People Called Methodists, published in 1780, only twelve stanzas appeared, divided into three separate hymns. The three-stanza version commonly used today dates from 1847.

Here is the version we have in our song book:

Vs 1:
Soldiers of Christ, arise and put your armor on;
Strong in the strength which God supplies,
Strong in the strength which God supplies, Thru His beloved Son.

Vs 2:
Strong in The Lord of Hosts, And in His mighty power;
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts,
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts, Is more that conqueror.

Vs 3:
Stand, then, in His great might, with all His strength endured;
But take to arm you for the fight,
But take to arm you for the fight, The panoply of God.

Vs 4:
Leave no unguarded place, no weakness of the soul;
Take every virtue, every place,
Take every virtue, every place, And fortify the whole.

Vs 5:
That having all things done, and all your conflicts past,
You may o'er come thru Christ alone,
You may o'er come thru Christ alone, And stand entire at last.

Why this song? I chose this song as it is kind of a family favorite. It's one of those songs that when we sing it, everyone gives 110% of their all. You can hear to whom they singing the song to. To whom all blessings are given by and it seems to just uplift us and deify us. It will always be a favorite.



Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Soldiers—the word conjures up images of men in battle, trained to fight, armed with deadly weapons. But it hardly describes most contemporary Christians, does it? Rather than battling our culture’s distorted values, many of us have been lulled into a passive faith.

And it’s no wonder we’re afraid to fight. Amid all the "political correctness" of our day, we’re pressured to keep our beliefs to ourselves, lest we offend someone else. And when we do take a stand for our faith, we’re often branded as "judgmental" and "intolerant."

All in all, it’s easier to just focus on non-controversial topics like "love" and "forgiveness" rather than confronting Satan’s lies. Yet our hymn reminds us that such behavior isn’t befitting a soldier of Christ. Yes, we must celebrate Christian love and grace, but we must also "arise and put [our] armor on" and "tread all the powers of darkness down."

This battle makes us uncomfortable and scared. Yet the stakes are too high for us to run away. Satan’s forces have filled the world with injustice and lies. Unless we battle them, our communities, our neighbors, and our own lives will grow ever more painful and dark.

So in the week ahead, "fight the good fight of the faith" (1 Tim. 6:12). Challenge someone with the truth when they discuss ungodly beliefs. Plan to eliminate a sinful habit from your life.

These fights won’t come easy, of course. But don’t lose heart. When we fight for God, we’re always on the stronger side.

I have learnt so much about these songs as I go and do research on them. It really gives me better understanding of what I am singing about. I hope it helps you too!

Much Love and God's richest blessings for you.
Trace

Commit your life to The Lord.

As the year comes to a close, I often find myself reflecting on the events through the year. Where I have been, who I have come to love, who I have let go? How I have grown and matured as an individual. Where I am financially. But most important, is the question, "Where am I in my spiritual life?"

I am so grateful to love and serve a God that, is unchanging and unchangeable through out all the ages. With confidence I rely on His promises because He is never changing.

Psalm 37:4-5.
"4. Delight yourself also in The Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5. Commit your way to The Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." {NKJV}

This year has been a good but trying year for me. I have really focused on my relationships with family members, friendships and my love life. I have made new friends and I have had to say good bye to some friendships. I have made choices that will determine how my relationships go on from here. Some of my reasons for my decisions were based on the following:

1. The people who I surround myself with, are a reflection of who I am. How do I want the world to see my reflection?
2. Are they adding to my life?
3. Are they encouraging me to be the best that I can be?
4. Are people just my friend because they know I won't say no when they're in need?
5. Are these people putting a wedge between me and my God?

Saying goodbye to some of these relationships wasn't easy. I had inner conflict as my heart didn't want to let these people go. I wanted to carry on having these people in my life because we had a history together. My head and the Bible were telling me to let them go. They were becoming a wedge between me and my Father. They were bringing me down, not enhancing me. They were making me a negative person. 1 Peter 4 talks about us suffering, but we must rejoice as it pleases God to see us sticking to Him, even though fiery trials may come.

Pslam 37:4-5 is a song about the promises God has given to me because I am His child. I realize now that when I go through trials, they bring me closer to Him. I study my Bible better to make sure I am saying hello or goodbye for the right reasons. This makes Him happy, which in return, makes me happy.

When I look at these 2 verses, I see that if I delight myself in The Lord, He will provide the things that I need and that if I entrust the management of my life to God, He will take care of me in every way.

There is no guarantee that you will skip through the year without any problems. In fact, just by what Peter is saying in 1 Pet 4, I can guarantee that you will have downs in the year. But your circumstances do not determine your happiness. Happiness resides in the hearts of the people who are in Christ. If you give your life to God, He Himself will give you His joy in your life. If I pull myself closer to God in times of celebration and in heart ache, He will pull himself closer to me. [I can picture right now hugging my mom and dad in my celebrations or in my heart ache and I have not doubts that they would pull me in and hug me tighter.... How glorious will it be when my Lord, my Creator, pulls me closer to Him, near to his heart.]

Acts 2:38 says it all... If you want to have this relationship with Our Heavenly Father... "Then Peter said to them, "repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remissions of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Maybe it's time for you to refocus and check out your priorities. The Lord wants you to delight yourself in Him. He wants to be your manager. You are the only one who has the power to either let Him, or leave Him.

Why you should always go to worship The Lord.

A man said he was going to stop coming to bible study. When the teacher asked why, the man replied and said "because I can't remember what I learned the week before."
The teacher said "how long have you been married?"
Man "25 years."
Teacher "and has your wife cooked for you every single day?"
Man "yes."
Teacher "what meals did she cook for you?"
Man "I can't remember. But I know she cooked for me."
Teacher "you can't remember what she cooked but it still nourished your body."
Man "well, yes."
Teacher "Coming to bible study and worship service is the same thing. You don't remember everything but you still nourishing your spiritual body."

Lesson learnt.

Have a Super Tuesday friends <3

Running the race

I recently ran my first 5k race every. I wasn't at all ready for it, my body, 3 days later, is still hurting from it :P 

I signed up a few days before the race. My heart racing with excitement as I was getting to run my first race. I checked the form that I had filled out twice just to make sure it was all correct.
I went and got new running shoes and the guy who helped me was {SO} helpful. I walked out of the shop and I told my Mom, "that guy, Cory, was so helpful. I think I just fell in love and made a new best friend." If anyone is looking for new sports wear, let me know... I highly recommend going and seeing Cory. He is awesome!. He answered all my silly questions gave me info on different races, different types of shoes (who knew you needed a different type of shoe for trail vs road running?? Hehe) and taught me a lot more about the sport. Anyway, I ended up walking out with an awesome pair of shoes. More shopping for a pair of running socks and water bottle and there I was, set to start a new chapter in my life.

So... Forms filled in, check. Race number, check. Running shoes, check. Water bottle, check. All I had to do was rock up at Lauren's house at 6:15am so we could walk {1.8km, on top of the 5ks} to the race.

That night I made sure I was prepared. I laid out my clothes and shoes. My water bottle and race number  were ready.  I was feeling excited and motivated.

{Race Day}
I woke up early got myself ready and went over to Lauren's house. Henriette, one of our friends was meeting up with us too. Neither of them had packed water in with them. When I asked they said we didn't need to take water as there would be water stations along the way. Awesome. I didn't need to run with my 500ml bottle... So I decided to drink most of the water before we left. Not such a smart move as I was soon to discover.

We walked to the race and it was a great way to warm up. Now I just have to say, Lauren and Henriette are runners. I am so grateful to them for sticking with me and encouraging me to push myself. We got to the start line and waited excitedly for the gun to go off. They counted down, 10. 9. 8... 3. 2. 1. And the gun went off. I pushed the start button on my timer and off we went. The first 500m was crazy as we made our way out the crowd to start our run, and by run I mean jog ;)

The first 2.5ks were pretty easy... Until I started getting a stitch, right under my ribs. Ouch. Not fun. Should not have had all that water for 'energy'. Lesson learnt.  After the first 3ks the girls really had to push me. I just wanted to walk the rest of the way. My legs were like jelly, already! The thought of what are my legs going to feel like tomorrow did cross my mind but all I could think about was the end. I. Need. To. Get. A. Gold. Medal. Lauren and Henriette helped me with my breathing, helped me to get to the top of the hill and helped me from "we will start walking from the next stop street and start running again from the next tree." Some times I surprised myself and pushed a bit harder than I thought I could and sometimes I just needed to slow right down. All this time with this silly stitch that just would not leave.  They had markers at every kilometer. Which helped me a lot so I knew how far we were. I knew the 5k mark was just around the corner. Yay. We were almost there. I was hot, sweating and just wanting to finish. We got around the corner and I saw the 5k mark BUT something was just not right. There were NO people there, and there were a couple people running past the 5k marker. "Did we maybe take a wrong turn somewhere and some how end up in the 10k zone??? Where are all the people??? More, importantly, Where is my gold medal???" These were some of the questions going on in my head. Henriette and Lauren kept on running, and so did I. And even worse, there was ANOTHER hill coming up. Really, at this point in the race??? And we were now heading on 5.5ks. Henriette eventually answered all my questions... "We almost there, just a few more steps to go." We ran another corner and there I saw the best sight I had seen in a LONG time... The posters marking the last 20 meters of the race. {Which had now turned the race into almost 6ks} Henriette had said that when you see these posters, somehow, from some where, you get this energy to just run through the finish line. Well, 50 meters ago, I didn't believe her. But that Very quickly changed. Lauren, Henriette and myself started running. 47 min, 03 sec and 9 1/10 of a second we crossed over the finish line. Tired, exhausted, hot, sweaty and HAPPY, we each got our gold medals.

I had achieved my goal. To cross the finish line and to get the medal.

Again, thanks to my running, encouraging fairy friends. I really wouldn't have pushed myself that much with out you.

Now, three and a half days later I am still a bit sore. But it was so worth it.

This all got me thinking. My spiritual life is sort of like running a race like this one.

Before I started my Christian race, I knew a bit about how I had to get started. Like my running race I had to make sure I had the right equipment - running shoes and running clothes. In my Godly race my equipment is the bible. 2 Tim 3:16-17 "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17. That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." {NKJV}

To run my race I had to make sure I was counted for so I had to fill in a form and pay a fee. In my spiritual race I had to make sure I was counted for by repenting AND getting baptized. Acts 2:38 then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remissions of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. {NKJV}

To get to my goal in the running race, which was crossing the finish line AND getting a medal, I had to make sure I kept my feet moving forward. It was hard some times, and along the way I needed encouragement to keep myself going. I went down hill where things were easy and up hill where things were hard. My Spiritual race is the same. To get to my goal, which is a crown in heaven, [Phi 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ESV] I have to keep moving forward, growing and maturing. [2 Pet 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. NKJV] Sometimes my race is hard and sometimes I may feel like giving up but I just need to remember to push through. God has given us brothers and sisters through Him, that I can use to encourage me. It is an instruction to help a brother or sister in hardships. [1 Thes 5: 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. NKJV] Even though there are hardships, there are times when it is easier. Where I feel motivated all the time. In both situations I need to remember to just keep my eyes on the prize.

In between my running races and my spiritual races I need to practice, do, push myself, encourage people to join me, don't become lazy and back slide. Otherwise I might not make it across the finish line, and how tragic will it be when I meet The Lord one day and He says to me "But you thought your needs were bigger than My needs, depart from me." Col 3:17 and whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of The Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. {NKJV} 

God gives us our running gear.

Eph 6. 10-20  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.11 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

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I hope you enjoy looking around and learning more about God and what His expectations are of us!!