Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS
Brethren we stand and here defy
The world and all its darkest power!
Pure love and brotherhood now wins
This evil day, our finest hour!
CITY ON A HILL
Noel added some verses.
Though false religion speaks against
And carnal Christians run to oppose,
These brethren stand, in Jesu’s name
In faith and love, and bless their foes.
However, even the apostle Paul didn’t find blessing easy.
‘Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm,’
wrote Paul to Timothy. ‘The Lord will repay him for what he
has done’ (2 Tim 4:14). But persecution was a must and we
needed to rejoice in it. Indeed, of the early church it was said,
‘people everywhere are talking against this sect’ (Acts 28:22).
The hornets were stirred. We had defied the worldly spirit,
and as the devil wouldn’t take it lying down, we entered a
new phase of spiritual warfare. Noel was a particular target
of attack and felt the criticism keenly. It was all the more
painful because of the genuine attempts we were now making
to open our hearts to Christian brethren. Many seemed
ready to kick us down, but few to stand with us.
‘Zion “rules in the midst of her enemies”,’ wrote Noel, referring
to Psalm 110:2. ‘They attack us with bitterness and
slander, and refuse to forgive. They reject open-hearted communication.
We go to them once, twice, more; but they reject
our brotherly appeals. But we must rejoice and stand firm,
211