S is for Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

 Stand Up for Jesus

Most of you have sung this song a number of times. It is an old standard and favorite that has crossed denominational lines over the years. Do you know its history and how it came to be written?

In 1858 a great revival had broken out in Philadelphia, PA. It was known as the “Work of God in Philadelphia.” Among the preachers who preached the Word of God was a young, twenty nine year old Episcopalian pastor named Dudley Tyng.

Pastor Tyng not only preached at his church but he also preached daily at noon in the downtown Philadelphia YMCA. Huge crowds would come to hear this dynamic young man during the noon hour of each day. He was fearless and uncompromising as he preached.

As a matter of fact, on Tuesday, March 30th, 1858 over 5000 people were present when he preached a sermon called “Go now ye that are men and serve the LORD, from Exodus 10:11. The record shows that over 1000 people committed their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ from that message.

Ominously enough, at one point, Pastor Tyng stated, “I must tell my Master’s errand, and I would rather that this right arm were amputated at the trunk than that I should come short of my duty to you in delivering God’s message.”

The following week, while he was visiting in the country and observing the operation of a corn threshing machine in a barn, his loose sleeve was caught between the cogs. His arm was lacerated so severely that it severed the main artery. As he lay dying from the loss of blood, a group which had gathered around him asked him for his final words. Pastor Tyng said as his last words,“Let us all stand up for Jesus.”

The very next Sunday, his close friend, Pastor George Duffield, who was pastor of the Temple Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, preached a tribute to his dear friend. He closed his sermon with a poem that he had just written inspired, he said, by the last words of Pastor Tyng.

Stand up; stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross!

Lift high his royal banner – it must not suffer lost.

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, the trumpet call obey;

Forth to the mighty conflict in this his glorious day.

Ye that are men now serve him against unnumbered foes

Let courage rise with danger and strength to strength oppose

Stand up; Stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;

This day the noise of battle – the next, the victor’s song.

To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be;

He with the King of glory shall reign eternally