Forward Under Christ’s Banner

By Lois J. Stucky 

    A revived church is God’s way of bringing in the harvest at the end of the age.  Today, everywhere we look around the world, we see tremendous spiritual needs.  Multitudes are locked into false religions whose hope is not in the true Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Some are blatantly anti-Christ.  Others have a form of godliness but not the life of Christ within.  Can God break through to such hearts?

    Yes!  With God all things are possible.  Jesus said, “ALL POWER is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen” (Matt. 28:18-20).

    Jesus, the Son of God, came down to earth to deliver mankind from the power of Satan.  He was crucified and died, but He rose again triumphantly!  We, who are partakers of the very blessed life of deliverance and salvation He gained for us, ought to heed with great enthusiasm His command to go with the Gospel that others might partake as well.

    Over 150 years ago, James Montgomery wrote of what God intends for His church. Montgomery envisioned Christ’s Blood-bought warrior bands going forth under His victorious banner to fulfill the work He began.  He wrote:    

    Though few and small and weak your bands,
    Strong in your Captain’s strength,
    Go to the conquest of all lands –
    All must be His at length.
    Those spoils at His victorious feet
    You shall rejoice to lay,
    And lay yourselves as trophies meet
    In His great judgment day. 

    Then fear not, faint not, halt not now!
    Quit you like men, be strong!
    To Christ shall all the nations bow
    And sing the triumph song.
    Uplifted are the gates of brass,
    The bars of iron yield;
    Behold the King of glory pass;
    The Cross has won the field. 

    Encouraged by God’s marvelous promises of protection and care, partaking of Christ’s victory over the ultimate enemy Satan – now is the hour for a heroic church to arise and go forth as Christ commanded, strong in His strength, gathering in the souls for whom He died, ourselves as well as them being trophies of His grace.  Might we, the church, those redeemed by the grace of the Lord, bestir ourselves in a manner worthy of our God and of His Christ, giving wholehearted obedience to their command.  Let us make all-out effort to go with the Gospel, working toward that glorious day of Christ’s Coming.