O, Church Arise

Prior to Steve Lawson’s message at this year’s Shepherd’s Conference, Keith and Kristyn Getty led the worship. Steve was clearly moved in the Spirit when he took the stage. His message was titled: The Invisible War and was based on the book of Job as applied to the sanctifying work done by our Sovereign Lord in our lives to prepare us for eternity and, of course, for His glory. I have downloaded that message and have watched it again and again.

I was at a local Christian bookstore in our city today and bought a CD by Keith and Kristyn Getty called In Christ Alone. I bought it based on that awesome worship time before Steve’s message. I was not disappointed as my wife and I listened to the CD as we drove home. In any case, in light of the last several posts here at Possessing the Treasure, I think those who are called by the name of their Lord, true Christians, the Church, need to understand who they really are in Him and that is based entirely in who He is and what He has done on their behalf. The following hymn says this very well as do most of the others on this CD.

We are greatly deprived when we neglect true worship. Yes, we worship God for His glory and this is essential to our walk and place in the Kingdom, but it is also a cleansing and edifying thing in our hearts while we remain in this walk according to the will of God. Joy is a good thing!

Therefore, below are the lyrics to one of my favorite hymns from the In Christ Alone CD. Enjoy and be blessed.

O Church Arise
by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

O Church Arise and put your armour on
Hear the call of Christ our Captain
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given
With shield of faith and belt of truth
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies
An army bold whose battle-cry is Love
Reaching out to those in darkness

Our call to war to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valour
When faced with trials on every side
We know the outcome is secure
And Christ will have the prize for which He died
An inheritance of nations

Come see the cross where love and mercy meet
As the Son of God is stricken
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet
For the Conqueror has risen
And as the stone is rolled away
And Christ emerges from the grave
This victory march continues till the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him

So Spirit come put strength in every stride
Give grace for every hurdle
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful
As saints of old still line the way
Retelling triumphs of His grace
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in glory

Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

Soli Deo Gloria!