Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

 

1

Am I a soldier of the cross,

A foll'wer of the Lamb?

And shall I fear to own His cause,

Or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies

On flow'ry beds of ease,

While others fought to win the prize,

And sailed thro' bloody seas?

2

Are there no foes for me to face?

Must I not stem the flood?

Is this vile world a friend to grace,

To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight if I would reign:

Increase my courage, Lord;

I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,

Supported by Thy word.

3

Thy saints, in all this glorious war,

Shall conquer, tho' they die;

They see the triumph from afar

By faith's discerning eye.

When that illustrious day shall rise,

And all Thine armies shine

In robes of vict'ry thro' the skies,

The glory shall be Thine.

Isaac Watts

Here is a video of these lyrics set to a different tune than the one above. This tune is used in some of our hymnals also.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU5ct0iY-Ds&list=RDKU5ct0iY-Ds&start_radio=1

I couldn't find a video I liked with a straightforward performance of the hymn as it's written in our songbooks. Here's a more fun version by The Happy Goodmans (from way back in 1972)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEiKXHyNb1Q

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ~II Timothy 2:3

Almost Persuaded

1 

“Almost persuaded” now to believe;

“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;

Seems now some soul to say,

“Go, Spirit, go Thy way;

Some more convenient day

On Thee I’ll call.”

2 

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today;

“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;

Jesus invites you here,

Angels are lingering near,

Prayers rise from hearts so dear;

O wanderer, come.

3 

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!

“Almost persuaded” doom comes at last!

“Almost” cannot avail;

“Almost” is but to fail!

Sad, sad, that bitter wail,

“Almost,” but lost!

Author: Philip P. Bliss

 This song was usually used as the "invitation" after the sermon -- an opportunity for anyone in the assembly to come forward to make a confession of sin and/or be baptized. In some other denominations this is sometimes known as an "altar call".

This first video does not include the last verse, which is pertinent to the invitation, for which this song is typically used in the worship service.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9oVppVnS6g&list=RDg9oVppVnS6g&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T49vk57tNmU&list=RDT49vk57tNmU&index=2

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. ~Acts 26:28

Acts 26:1-28

  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself... 

  I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently... 

  Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee... 

  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. 

  And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness... 

  King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed? (At the Cross)

1  

Alas, and did my Savior bleed?   

And did my Sovereign die?  

Would He devote that sacred head   

For such a worm as I?  

2  

Was it for sins that I had done.   

He groaned upon the tree?  

Amazing pity! grace unknown!    

And love beyond degree!  

3  

Well might the sun in darkness hide,   

And shut His glories in,  

When Christ, the mighty Maker, died   

For man, His creature’s sin.  

4  

Thus might I hide my blushing face   

While His dear cross appears.  

Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,   

And melt mine eyes to tears.  

5  

But drops of grief can ne’er repay   

The debt of love I owe;  

Here, Lord, I give myself away,   

’Tis all that I can do.  

Refrain:  

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,  

And the burden of my heart rolled away,  

It was there by faith I received my sight,  

And now I am happy all the day!    

 Author: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)  

Refrain by Ralph Erskine Hudson (1843-1901)    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeBNnupt3P8&list=RDNeBNnupt3P8&start_radio=1

And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. ~Mark 10:52

Psalm 22:6 

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.   

 

Mark 10:46 

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. 48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. 49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.    

Matthew 27:45 

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God

How Great Thou Art

1

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed,

2

When through the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze,

3

And when I think that God, his son not sparing,

Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in --

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin,

CHORUS

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:

How great thou art, how great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:

How great thou art, how great thou art!

4

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration

And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art! 

Carl Boberg (Swedish)

English translation: Stuart K. Hine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYTKYpnRnAQ&list=RDaYTKYpnRnAQ&start_radio=1

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. ~Psalm 145:3

A Mighty Fortress

1

A mighty fortress is our God,

A bulwark never failing;

Our helper He, amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing;

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and pow'r are great,

And, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

2

Did we in our own strength confide,

Our striving would be losing,

Were not the right man on our side,

The man of God's own choosing;

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is He!

Lord Sabaoth His name,

From age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

3

And tho' this world, with demons filled,

Should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed

His truth to triumph through us;

The prince of darkness grim--

We tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure, 

For lo, his doom is sure;

One little word shall fell him!

Martin Luther

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XUYZoguhEQ

Matthew 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Mark 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Luke 6:5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; and he shall trust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

II Samuel 22:2 And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer.

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Night, with Ebon Pinion

1

Night with ebon pinion*

Brooded o'er the vale;

All around was silent,

Save the night wind's wail,

When Christ, the man of sorrows,

In tears and sweat as blood,

Prostrate in the garden,

Raised his voice to God.

2

Smitten for offenses 

Which were not his own,

He for our transgressions

Had to weep alone;

No friend with words to comfort,

Nor hand to help was there;

When the meek and lowly

Humbly bowed in prayer:

3

Abba, Father, Father,

If indeed it may,

Let this cup of anguish

Pass from me, I pray;

Yet if it must be suffered

By me, thine only son,

Abba, Father, Father,

Let thy will be done.

L. H. Jameson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nog651DHLvI&list=RDNog651DHLvI&start_radio=1

Luke 22

39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

*Ebon: dark brown or black in color; ebony.

*Pinion: the outer part of a bird's wing including the flight feathers.

When My Love to Christ Grows Weak

 1  

When my love to Christ grows weak,  

When for deeper faith I seek,  

Then in thought I go to thee,  

Garden of Gethsemane.  

2  

There I walk amid the shades,  

While the ling'ring twilight fades,  

See that suff'ring, friendless one,  

Weeping, praying there alone.  

3  

When my love for man grows weak,  

When for stronger faith I seek,  

Hill of Calvary, I go  

To thy scenes of fear and woe.  

4  

There behold His agony,  

Suffered on the bitter tree;  

See His anguish, see His faith,  

Love triumphant still in death.  

5  

Then to life I turn again,  

Learning all the worth of pain,  

Learning all the might that lies  

In a full self-sacrifice.

   

Author: John Reynell Wreford   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxi0iuoa5fc&list=RDpxi0iuoa5fc&start_radio=1

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong. ~II Corinthians 12:10

Luke 22:39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.    

Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him... 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.