After the 1St Ordination with the laying on of hands. The 1st Generation Pastors in turn ordained more Pastors

 

JSM 2ND ORDINATION OF PASTORS

REV. DR.  TANG TUCK KEONG (CURRENT PASTOR OF JESUS SAVES MISSION)

REV. ELIJAH THOMAS CHACKO (Founder of The Westminster Tradition)

 

Kneeling in background is Rev Tang Tuck Keong

Kneeling in foreground is Rev Thomas Chacko

 

Standing 1st from right is Elijah Thomas Chacko

2nd from right is Rev Dr Matthew Khoo (Chinese Pastor of JSM)

3rd from right is Rev. Dr Tang Tuck Keong (Pastor of Jesus Saves Mission)

 

 

JSM 3rd Ordination of Pastor Rev Chandra Shedar Ekar

 

 

Holding uplifted Bible in prayer dedication is Rev Dr James Tan (Christ Grace Church)

Kneeling is Rev Chandra Shekar Ekar from India (the nephew of Dr Jacob Chelli )

 

⁴ And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. (Heb. 5:4)

 

JSM 4TH ORDINATION OF PASTORS

REV. DR PAUL CHOO

REV. HO SOO KAM

 

 

Standing 1st from left is Rev Dr Paul Choo who founded the GOSPEL LIGHT CHRISTIAN CHURCH (SINGAPORE)

Standing 2nd from left is Rev Ho Soo Kam (Deep Bible Student Researcher)

 

This period witnessed the successive ordination of 10 Pastors in a very short time

However God’s word says,

^” Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.” I Timothy 5:22)

Or do not ordain men into the ministry suddenly “without proper training” in all the true and accurate knowledge of Scriptures and Church Government.

In fact God already warned me not to get ordained which I disobeyed to my detriment on hindsight.  That was one breach on looking back more than 30 years now. More about that later as God graciously over ruled in the affairs of man to His Glory & Praise.

From the glory and the gladness

From His secret place;

From the rapture of His Presence

From the radiant of His Face-

 

Christ, the son of God, hath sent me

Through the midnight lands;

Mine the mighty ordination

Of the pierced hands

 

Standing on the left is Rev Dr Peter Ng.

Standing on the right is Dr. Bob Jones III (Chancellor of Bob Jones University)

 

And this was one of the most intense heart moving prayers by Dr Bob Jones III

“Dear God,

Keep these men faithful. Faithful in spite of opposition. Keep them faithful in the face of difficulty. Keep them true and faithful even if they have to face the firing squad………”

And I heard him pray I felt very humbled in the dust.

You must know that few years back the US lost Vietnam War when Saigon fell to the Vietcong in 1975. Then Vietnam invaded Cambodia and set up the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields from 1975 to 1979…

So the danger lurked with the shadow of war around South east Asia then.

 

Above is the First Ordination for 5 Pastors and one graduate in JSM

 

 

 

After I got saved in September 15th, 1972 I felt a constant desire to pray, read the Bible & fellowship with like minded Christians. Months later after my Cambridge Exam I attended Bethel Baptist Church and got baptised in the borrowed Baptistry of the KUALA LUMPUR BAPTIST CHURCH IN JALAN ALOR, BUKIT BINTANG, KL

I was baptized by The American Missionary Pastor Vernon L. Moore from USA on November 26th 1972.

For months I attended the BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH In Pasar Road. One evening on the way to Church I passed by Jesus Saves Mission in Jalan Kenanga, KL. I was invited to join the Bible Study there.

I felt irresistibly drawn there as I will relate later (But in the beginning I was put off by the very personal confession of sins in prayer). So I left the Bethel Baptist Church & attended the Jesus Saves Mission in year 1973

In December 1973 there was a  Bible Conference held on Penang Hill.

Here the words of God spoke to me in great power

Isaiah 43:10-12 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

¹¹ I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

¹² I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.”

 

At these words which came to me with great convicting power I knelt down and committed my life to be His Servant from hence forth.

God has called and chosen me to be

1. His servant
2.  To be His Witness (One who must see & hear Him & His Working First Hand.
3.  To know God personally as a Real Life reality. To believe in Him & put complete trust in Him & to understand Him & His purpose in life.

Looking back these 45 or more years I am now an eye witness and an ear witness  of the great divine power of God Almighty in Divine Presence, Protection & Provision.

This is the reason why www.inspiretopray.com is set up to the Praise of His Glory

 

Amen & Amen

I was brought up in a typical heathen Chinese family in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My birth date was 2nd July 1956.

My family gods were idols with quan yin as the main object of worship. In fact i was given as a god-son of quan-yin.

It was total heathen darkness as the song goes

“Heathendom’s millions wait for the light

Wait in their darkness

Lost in the night

They have no gospel

They do not know

Jesus would save them

Still they must die”

At the age of about  8 I got up one Chinese New Year morning. To my surprise I saw at the back of my house a small group of children gathered for a card game. I used to play children games like playing marbles, catching spiders and flying kites. But this time it was different because money is involved. They were gambling. I felt a strange power that drew me as i joined in. And then I got hooked to the gambling habit. For the next eight years until age 16 I was addicted to gambling.

Those were 8 years of total abject slavery to an enslaving habit which I could not shake off. Sometime in year 1970 when I was 14 years of age my family shifted to a 1st floor shop apartment in KL. It was a newly built place. Very strange. One night when i was sleeping i felt a pair of invisible hands on my neck and I also felt a heavy oppression on my chest. I struggled and the “entity” left. I was shocked as this is a new building but “haunted”. And the oppression came back night after night.

And so it continued for the year of 1970 to 1972….for 3 years I was addicted to gambling in the day and felt the continual oppression in the night.

My father would scold me, “Don’t you dare go gambling or else I will chop off your fingers” Fearing that I swore that i will stop gambling. I succeeded for a brief time due to fear. One day I got some money and I was walking

I remember talking to myself, “Where are you going?”

“To gamble”

“Didn’t you swear that you will never again gamble?”

“Yes, I did swear.” And while I was struggling and reasoning with my mind  my feet was walking in the direction to gamble. So i know what was right to do but I could not do it as i made my way to the gambling den

Having lost all I felt very foolish & guilt got hold of  me as i walked home on that very dark day of my life. I was totally miserable.

Then again I got oppressed by evil spirits at night again. Of course I prayed faithfully at 10pm every night to Quan yin for deliverance. But to no avail as the oppression continued till year 1972 when i was 16 years old.

So by day i gambled and by night i got oppressed. This is a very miserable existence indeed.

Driven to despair one midnight I went downstair from the 1st floor apartment I looked up at the night sky and said these words,

“Why do i exist here? Why is my life so full of problems i could not solve?

“Is there a God out there who knows about my problems?.”

“Who are you God?”

If you do hear me out there please reveal yourself and help me as i cried with open eyes looking up at the dark night sky

Weeks passed.

Then one day Jackson Tan Said Meng, my fellow schoolmate visited me.

He said, “I am a Christian” and handed me some tracts. I replied, “Christianity”? That is a Western man religion. Not for us Chinese as we have our own Chinese gods”

“No,” Jackson replied, “Jesus is not from Europe. Jesus founded Christianity in the Middle East”

“Oh i don’t know as i told him i will take a look at his tracts. Among the tracts Jackson gave me was a copy of

“THIS WAS YOUR LIFE” By JACK CHICK

I READ THAT TRACT WITH DEEP CONVICTION. But I was still unconverted

Then one night while sleeping I had a dream. I saw my body filled with diseases as i returned home.

In my home I saw all the furniture were in a shamble. Then I saw a Cross cut into half and dangling (My brother brought home a plastic cross which was hung up since he attended the Methodist School)

AND I SAW JESUS NAILED TO THE CROSS! AT THAT I CRIED FOR SALVATION

THEN I GOT UP FROM MY DREAM

It was still dark. Long while before daybreak. I knelt beside my bed and asked Jesus to be my LORD AND SAVIOR

SUDDENLY, I FELT LIKE A 200 POUND BURDEN REMOVED FROM FROM SHOULDER!!

I FELT VERY LIGHT AS A FEATHER

I TOLD MY FAMILY I HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS AS MY LORD AND SAVIOUR

THEY SAID, “YOU HAVE GONE MAD” YOU WILL SOON REVERT BACK JUST AS YOU GAVE UP SCOUTING LAST TIME AS A PASSING FAD

NOW I HAVE BEEN A CHRISTIAN MORE THAN 46 YEARS ALREADY SINCE 15TH SEPTEMBER 1972

VERY STRANGE THINGS HAPPENED AFTER MY CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY

I HAD TOTALLY LOST MY DESIRE FOR GAMBLING

When Chinese New Year arrived in early 1973 my father told me to be happy

I said, “What do you mean by being happy?” He said, “Today Is Chinese New Year Day. So it is alright to go gamble a little. Be happy as it is an auspicious day. But not other days”

Ha! I HAD ZERO DESIRE OR INTEREST IN GAMBLING. IT WAS AMAZING HOW JESUS COMPLETELY DELIVERED ME FROM THIS BONDAGE. AND FOR 46 YEARS I HAVE NOT ONCE BOUGHT A LOTTERY TICKET OR GAMBLED IN A CASINO.

JESUS SAID, “IF THE SON HATH MADE YOU FREE YE SHALL BE FREE INDEED”

NOT ONLY I WAS FREED FROM THE GAMBLING HABIT. AT NIGHT WHEN I SLEPT I HAD POWER OVER THE OPPRESSING EVIL SPIRITS THROUGH THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS

 

HALLELUJAH A BILLION TIMES TO JESUS CHRIST MY LORD AND MY SAVIOUR

 

AMEN & AMEN

 

In year 1996 I was given this stanza as a Birthday Wish while kneeling and praying on Gasing Ridge, Petaling Jaya

I need the Presence of His Son;
From world and sin and self to turn.
To live by faith through God’s great grace;
And walk with Him in grateful praise.

Last week while on my way home these words came to me

 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Especially the phrase “I am with you always”

I have always needed the Presence of Jesus all my life. And these words came again with Power

“I AM with you always”

As I pondered deeper my heart started to burn with these words – “I AM” with you

The GREAT “I AM THAT I AM” is with me!!

Exodus 3:14 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am ( הְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶהאֶ, ’ehyeh ’ăšer ’ehyeh) : and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

John 8:58 King James Version (KJV)

⁵⁸ Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

I AM (refers to Jesus) existed even before Abraham was born.

And Jesus mentions himself as the GREAT  “I AM” seven times in the Gospel &  and in Revelation

I AM the way the truth and the life {John 14:6) (Jesus shows me the correct way to go)

I AM the good shepherd (Jesus shepherd watches over me)

I AM the door (Jesus opens doors that no man can close)

I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35)

I AM the light of the world (Jesus gives me light in a world surrounded by darkness)

I AM the resurrection and the Life (Jesus gives New Life abundantly)

I AM the Vine (John 15) (By Jesus we can bear fruit)

Revelation 1:18 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ I AM he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I AM alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death

WAHAHA!

“I AM” WITH YOU ALWAYS!!

I SERVE A RISEN SAVIOUR WHO IS FOREVER WITH ME AS HE PROMISED

“”and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.””

AMEN AND AMEN!!

 

In year 1977 I was given this Birthday Wish

I need the promised Holy Ghost;
To stir the gift, O LORD of hosts.
Create in me concrete desire;
To be for Thee a flame of fire.

On hindsight after 40 years I think I need this “flame of fire” more now than ever before!

In year 1970 before I became a Christian my classmate lent me a book called “Flame For God in the Far East” By Leslie Lyall

I read it like a fictional story with little feeling.

Then I got saved on Sept 15th 1972. Only then I got to know more and more about the blazing ministry of Dr John Sung through  Rev. Dr, Peter Ng & his wife Tow Siew Mui, And more eye witness of John Sung Revival ministry as I relate here

1. Rev. Dr. Peter Ng

On Mt Faber in Singapore one friday All Night Prayer in the 1970s DR. Ng told how Dr. John Sung picked him up in his hands while still a lad  when Dr. Sung preached in his Pastor father’s methodist Church. And since then he caught the fire from John Sung. In the wee hours of the night I heard those glowing words of how John Sung has been such a tremendous inspiration

2. Mrs Ng (Tow Siew Mui) Wife of Rev Peter NG

She said in those times when she attended John Sung Meetings which were fully packed with people if you want to go to the washroom you must tie a hankerchief to your chair or some one else will take your seat.

3. Dr Chia Boon Leong

Dr. Chia (medical doctor was Rev. Ng’s sunday school teacher) DR. Chia told me how he heard people singing one night. On looking out of his window he saw people on lorries singing gospel choruses by John Sung in Singapore. Dr. Chia also mentioned how he heard God’s voice warning him from danger near a cliff and saved his life.

 

4) One Bible Woman I met in Year 1976

On SBS Bus near Upper Thompson Road I met one Bible Woman in her sixties in white. She mentioned with fervor how she witnessed Dr Sung would swing his arm while illustrating his sermon in the 1930s

So many years have lapsed since Dr Sung visited Singapore and yet she could demonstate how Dr. Sung waved his hands

 

5) Dr. Tow Siang Yew

One night after All Night Prayer in Batu Feringghi in Penang we stayed up for fishing. It was a fruitful time as we caught fish after fish from the incoming tide – mostly gelama & catfish

Then near morning while helping a brother to unhook a catfish he caught I got stung. Then a felt a needle like pain in my finger tip as the poison worked its way.

And the pain moved to the joint of my finger. And it pain proceeded to my wrist and then it moved up to my arm and crept up to my shoulder. Fearing that the poison might move next to my heart I asked for help. And Miss Ang drove me (by now early morning) to Penang City to see DR. TOW SIANG YEW.

SIANG YEW gave me an injection & didn’t charge me any fee. I didn’t know at that time he (a man of few words)  was the one who gave Rev Timothy Tow a push when Dr. John Sung gave his gospel call

 

6) Rev Dr Timothy Tow (Founder of Life Bp Church & Far Eastern Bible College)

Of all John Sung converts in Singapore I think Dr Timothy Tow wrote the most about the Ministry of Dr. John Sung

 

7) Rev Dr Tow Siang Hwa (Founder of Calvary Pandan Bp Church)

As I type now before me is a copy of “FOOTPRINTS In The Sands of Time” (autobiography)  given to me by Dr Tow Siang Hwa in year 2009.

On page 240 Dr. Tow mentioned he was saved in John Sung’s meeting at the age of 10. And 4 years later at the age of 14 Dr. Tow responded to John Sung’s call to full time consecration and service in year 1938.

30 years later Dr, Tow resigned from his duty in KK Hospital & founded and started over 20 BP Churches in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Uk, Canada

This was how Dr Tow testified, “The fires of the Holy Spirit revival swept through the country”

 

8) Alice Doo

Last but not least was Alice Doo, the aunt of Rev Timothy Tow & Dr Tow Siang Hwa

One evening in the late 1970s Rev. Matthew Khoo & I paid a visit to Ms Alice Doo in Pandan Valley. There she told us how she had a nasal problem. On being anointed with olive oil and prayed over by Dr, John Sung she is completely healed. That more than 40 years ago.

We also listened to a tape which she recorded the deliverance of a girl possessed by more than 2,000 evil spirits. And the tape was eerie to hear as the evil demons screamed as they were commanded in Jesus’name to leave one by one. Only later, much later I found out she was also called to serve full time under Dr John Sung’s ministry. And she published John Sung Sermons in Chinese which Rev Timothy later translated into English

One day in Penang (circa 1979) I wrote to Alice Doo in Singapore for prayer that I might have power. She wisely replied, “Don’t pray for power. Pray for the Holy Spirit”

Yes, very true indeed”

God’s Word says, “And ye shall receive Power after that the HOLY SPIRIT” is Come Upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me”

AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO MADE DR JOHN SUNG A FLAME FOR GOD IN THE FAR EAST IS THE SAME TODAY!

MAY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT LIGHT A FIRE IN OUR SOULS AS FLAMES OF FIRE FOR HIS GLORY!

“Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire” (Psalm 104:4)

 

Amen & Amen

 

 

 

 

1. O Master, let me walk with Thee,
   In lowly paths of service free;
   Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
   The strain of toil, the fret of care.
2. Help me the slow of heart to move
   By some clear, winning word of love;
   Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
   And guide them in the homeward way.
3. Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee
   In closer, dearer, company,
   In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
   In trust that triumphs over wrong.
4. In hope that sends a shining ray
   Far down the future’s broad’ning way,
   In peace that only Thou canst give,
   With Thee, O Master, let me live.

O MASTER LET ME WALK WITH THEE has been one of those blessed hymn that inspired me.

O MASTER, let me walk with Thee

Enoch’s faith stood out because Enoch was with God. At the age of 65 Enoch started walking with God till the age of 365. For 300 long years Enoch walked with God. One evening as Enoch was walking with God and the conversation and friendship grew so deep that God said to Enoch, “Don’t need to go home today. Come Up to My Home!” And God took Enoch to heaven without seeing death.

GOD’s Word says, “ And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8)

In the beginning of creation God literally walked on earth with men. Till men turned from God in sin and ceased to walk with God. But the most blessed life is lived in communion, fellowship & walking with God.

“In lowly paths of service free;”

After May 1st 1988 after having resigned from KL JSM  I have served God with “free service”  God is a far better paymaster.

1. Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
   The strain of toil, the fret of care.”

God is a revealer of secret. God revealed to Joseph the 7 good years of plenteous harvest followed by 7 years of very severe famine in Egypt.  God also reveal;ed the secret of King Nebuchadnezzar dream to Daniel in Babylon describing the 4 World Empires yet future.

Today the secret of the LORD is still with those who fear God and walk with God.

King James Version (Amos 3:7)
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Knowing God’s plan & secret purpose does not mean an easy or life without burden or responsibily

Read again

1. Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
   The strain of toil, the fret of care.”

Help me bear the strain of toil. Help me bear the fret of care

In toil or labour we strain under physical weight. In care and responsibility we fret emotionally.

See how Enoch endured in his days

 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

¹⁵ To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

¹⁶ These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. (Jude 1:14 -16)

We need both physical & emotional strength to do God’s will in a world filled with evil men.

 

1. Help me the slow of heart to move
   By some clear, winning word of love;

Hearts that are hardened and minds that are closed need lots of patience if we want  to win fallen men  over to God’s side.

1. Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee
   In closer, dearer, company,
   In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
   In trust that triumphs over wrong.

We need even more patience to walk closer and nearer with God as the world turns more and more evil.

We are witnessing the same proliferation of evil in homosexual perversion just like the days of Lot.

We must do God’s bidding to keep our faith sweet & strong. Our trust in the unfailing God will triumph over all wrong

In the world we will face trials & tribulation but in walking & staying close to God we have strong sweet faith

 

1. In hope that sends a shining ray
   Far down the future’s broad’ning way,
   In peace that only Thou canst give,
   With Thee, O Master, let me live.

The final stanza is my favourite

“In hope that sends a shining ray”

In lowly paths of service free. Then it proceeds to “In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,”

Then “In trust that triumphs over wrong.”

Now “In hope that sends a shining ray”

HOPE IS FUTURE

The dictionary describe hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen”.

IT IS HOPE THAT SENDS INTO THE FUTURE A SHINING RAY

HOPE BEARS US ON ITS WINGS THE EXPECTATION OF A BETTER AND BRIGHTER FUTURE YET AHEAD!!

THIS SPURS US ON THROUGH GOOD AND BAD TIMES. THROUGH THICK AND THIN!!  THROUGH IT ALL TO EMERGE VICTORIOUS EVENTUALLY!!  AMEN!

Those early days were misty and not clear. BUT HOPE PIERCES THROUGH THE VEIL TO THE EXPECTATION THAT THE FUTURE WILL BE BRIGHT.

“THE FUTURE IS AS BRIGHT AS THE PROMISES OF GOD”

The verse continues

Far down the future’s broad’ning way,

FAR = FUTURE IS FAR IN TIME! BUT WE WILL ARRIVE THERE ONE DAY. MORE THAN 40 YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE I FIRST GOT TO KNOW THIS BLESSED  HYMN

FAR DOWN THE FUTURE’S    B-R-O-A-D-E-N-I-N-G…… WAY

SEE HOW FUTURE EXPANDS!!

HOPE MOVES WITH GREAT EXPECTATION INTO A FUTURE WITH ALL ITS BROAD AND VAST POSSIBILITIES!!

IN THE EIGHTEEN CENTURY JOHN G. PATON ARRIVED ON TANNA ISLAND AS A PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONARY TO THE NEW HEBRIDES (VANUATU)

On arrival his wife died and then his son died. To keep their bodies from being dug out and eaten  by savage cannibals he had to guard their bodies even at night. His own life was in danger many time if not for the timely deliverance God intervened. Today after more than 100 years VANUATU is a Christian Nation. And the largest denomination is Presbyterian.

The future for John G. Paton shows God fulfilled His Words faithfully

 

In the early 20th Century James O. Fraser left for China to evangelize the Lisu minority tribe of Yunnan, China. For many years he had not a single convert. Yet he help on to hope & faith.

Today the LIsu are mostly Christians. China has designated Christianity as the Official Religion of the LISU

For me I can humbly say

“GOD IS GOOD THUS FAR”

With Isaac Watts I can only say

O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST

OUR HOPE FOR YEARS TO COME

Amen & Amen!

 

PLEASE NOTE:

 

In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,

It is better to do any work with less pay and have sweet strong faith than to have work with good or excellent pay with vexation of spirit

So seek a career or calling that help you stay strong in your walk with Almighty God

Remember, God with us and for us is our Top Priority in Life

 

 

Or The Story of How Poem on “LIFE’S DESIRE” Originated

Life’s Desire

 

Fast forward 19 years later in year 1996 I was given the 2nd Stanza on another Birthday

This time kneeling on Gasing Ridge, Petaling Jaya

2.) I need the Presence of His Son;
From world and sin and self to turn.
To live by faith through God’s great grace;
And walk with Him in grateful praise

The 2nd stanza centers around God the Son

 

4 Years later in Year 2000 again on my Birthday God gave me 3 Stanzas in just one hour – standing in SBS (Singapore Bus Service) BUS on the way to Church on Sunday

 

3.) I need my Father’s guiding grace;
To spur me on the upward way.
Show me the path to man’s chief end;
Stay by my side, dear Heavenly Friend.

 

4.) Though weak and weary I fight on;
Till some from this wide world I’ve won.
Averting men from God’s great wrath
And turn them to the heavenly path.

 

5.) The promise of an endless life;
God welcomes you to claim the prize.
A thousand million years and more;
With Christ forever, forever more

 

Stanza 3 talks about God the Father while Stanza 4 talks about saving lost souls

Finally, Stanza 5 speaks of heaven & eternity

When I came to Stanza 5 there were 2 phrases

The promise of an endless life;

“God welcomes you to claim the prize”  and another phrase came to mind

The promise of an endless life;

“God welcome you to claim it Christ”

So there were 2 phrases

“to claim the prize” or “to claim it in Christ”

In the end I was led to include “to claim the prize”

Why?

Answer:

Eternal life is a “gift” so it is a prize to be claimed.

John 3: 16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life”

For God so loved = “HE GAVE”

God gave what?

Answer = HE GAVE EVERLASTING LIFE

 

After so many birthdays have passed with all the intense wishes the poem has finally emerged with the title = “LIFE’S DESIRE”

Amen & Amen.

 

Now after sometime I found to my gladness that the words rythme with the Hymn called “O Master Let Me Walk With Thee”