The Arm of Flesh Will Fail You
by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
01/01/2023
Psalm 44:3 - For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
In March of 1858, a young preacher by the name of Dudley Tyng preached a rousing sermon to 5,000 young men at the YMCA and over 1,000 made a profession of faith. During his sermon he supposedly said “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.”
Only a few days later Tyng left the study of his country home to visit his barn where a mule was harnessed to a machine that was shelling corn. When he patted the mule his sleeve was caught in the cogs of the wheel and his arm was badly maimed. He passed away the following week from the injury.
Before he died, he was asked if he had a message for the ministers at the revival and he replied “Tell them, ‘Let us all stand up for Jesus.'” His friend and fellow preacher, Dr. George Duffield Jr., was touched by the words and wrote the hymn Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus. Duffield concluded his sermon the following Sunday by reading the lyrics as a tribute to his friend.
{Third stanza}
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 pray'r;
Where duty calls, or danger,
Be never wanting there.
How many of us today are comfortable trusting in ourselves rather than intentionally placing our trust in the Lord?
Here are a few ways that you may discern if God is your strength today from Psalm 44:
1. Is God in control of your life?
- Verse 4 - "Thou art my King, O God:"
2. Are you utilizing His provided resources for battle (i.e. the Bible, prayer, sensitivity to His Spirit’s leadership)?
- verse 5 - "Through thee will we push down our enemies:"
3. Whose reputation are you concerned with?
- verse 5 - "through thy name will we tread them under that rise against us."
4. Are you embracing tools that you possess naturally at your disposal?
- verse 6 - "For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me."
5. When the victory is won, who do you feel deserves the credit?
- verse 8 - "In God we boast all the day long,"
It is embarrassingly easy to completely function in life without God. We may choose to never enter into our secret place with the Lord, never open His Word, spend little time in prayer, and never give thought to His Spirit's control throughout our days. Though this is probably easier it is most certainly not better. Because when we do this we are all but assuring victory for our enemy. Our flesh has never won a spiritual battle and it never will. Trust in the Lord for victory today. Spend time confessing your weakness to Him while asking that He might be strong in your life.
01/01/2023
Psalm 44:3 - For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
In March of 1858, a young preacher by the name of Dudley Tyng preached a rousing sermon to 5,000 young men at the YMCA and over 1,000 made a profession of faith. During his sermon he supposedly said “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.”
Only a few days later Tyng left the study of his country home to visit his barn where a mule was harnessed to a machine that was shelling corn. When he patted the mule his sleeve was caught in the cogs of the wheel and his arm was badly maimed. He passed away the following week from the injury.
Before he died, he was asked if he had a message for the ministers at the revival and he replied “Tell them, ‘Let us all stand up for Jesus.'” His friend and fellow preacher, Dr. George Duffield Jr., was touched by the words and wrote the hymn Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus. Duffield concluded his sermon the following Sunday by reading the lyrics as a tribute to his friend.
{Third stanza}
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 pray'r;
Where duty calls, or danger,
Be never wanting there.
How many of us today are comfortable trusting in ourselves rather than intentionally placing our trust in the Lord?
Here are a few ways that you may discern if God is your strength today from Psalm 44:
1. Is God in control of your life?
- Verse 4 - "Thou art my King, O God:"
2. Are you utilizing His provided resources for battle (i.e. the Bible, prayer, sensitivity to His Spirit’s leadership)?
- verse 5 - "Through thee will we push down our enemies:"
3. Whose reputation are you concerned with?
- verse 5 - "through thy name will we tread them under that rise against us."
4. Are you embracing tools that you possess naturally at your disposal?
- verse 6 - "For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me."
5. When the victory is won, who do you feel deserves the credit?
- verse 8 - "In God we boast all the day long,"
It is embarrassingly easy to completely function in life without God. We may choose to never enter into our secret place with the Lord, never open His Word, spend little time in prayer, and never give thought to His Spirit's control throughout our days. Though this is probably easier it is most certainly not better. Because when we do this we are all but assuring victory for our enemy. Our flesh has never won a spiritual battle and it never will. Trust in the Lord for victory today. Spend time confessing your weakness to Him while asking that He might be strong in your life.
Recent
Archive
2023
January
May
In A MomentFree For Who? Free For You!Purity In PrivateMake Me A BlessingThe Hard Times Of LifeThe Burdens Of LifeHide and SeekThe Conflict Around UsHow To React To DifficultiesGod's GuidanceWhen It Seems Like There Is Nothing LeftA Drink For Your Thirsty SoulThe RaptureTomorrow's Secrets and CertaintiesSuffering For the Sake of OthersWhat Jesus PrioritizedHe Giveth More GraceI Never Knew I Could Do ThatHind Every MountainHeaven's HeadlineGod's Purpose For Your LifeFaith That Leads To ObedienceHaving A Biblical PerspectiveA Good ExampleGod Can See In The DarkGreat Is Our GodFollowing JesusJesus, My RosebudThe Shield Of FaithGod Laughs At Our WisdomThe Almighty God
June
Burned OutWhere Did All These Packages Come From?This GodEvery Decision Has A ConsequenceA Resume That's EternalWhat Will We See In Heaven?Watch Your MouthPut Down The Baby Bottle & Fire Up The GrillWhy Do Good Things Happen To Good People?The Undetected War WithinThe Battle Is Not Yours, But God'sEncouragementThe Value Of A Godly FriendWhat If God Said "Yes" To Everything?NotJust Mind Your BusinessA Day In The LifeThe God-Given Task To FathersThe Kind Of Christian I Would Like To BeStrength And CourageStill No Room For The SaviourHangry And A Bit Dramatic or Void Of Spirituality?We Will Understand It Better By And ByPreach The WordWhat My God Saith, That Will I SpeakDo You Read The Owner's Manual?Can I Know The Will Of God?
July
August
The Thing Which I Greatly FearedThe Best Way To Travel Life's PathwayA Distinct DifferenceSincerity On SundayJoy For Life's JourneyWhat Manner Of LoveMaking A DifferenceOnly Sometimes Usually Leads To NeverThe Order Of LifeOpinionatedGod Knows How It EndsWhat To Do When Troubles ComeHow Do You React To Difficulties?The World's Oldest ProblemWhat Are Your Intentions?The Impact Of A Single SoulWhat's Your Quest?Submitting To The LordA Gift Worth OfferingWhat Do I Have?Why I Love The BibleNot My PresidentThe Blessings Of ObedienceWhat Do You Need For Courage?