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Anywhere With Jesus

TEXT1 Pet. 3:14-152 Tim. 4:16-18

INTRODUCTION:

A.      ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS – REMINDS OF US OF JESUS PRESENCE.

          1.       Gives courage to the faint.

          2.       Inspires to service, knowing that Jesus is with us (Matt. 28:19).

B.      BACKGROUND:

The original text was written by Jessie H. Brown Pounds (1861-1921).  A prolific author

of gospel hymn texts in the later 19th and early 20th centuries, she is famous for such hymns

as "The Way Of The Cross Leads Home" and "Beautiful Isle Of Somewhere."  The tune

was composed by Daniel Brink Towner (1850-1919).  Among his other well-known

melodies are those for "Trust And Obey" and "At Calvary."  The song "Anywhere With Jesus,"

 in three stanzas, was first published in the Fleming H. Revel Company's

"Hymns Old and New, No. 1," of 1887.

Around 1915, two more stanzas were added, and perhaps other adaptations made,

to give this hymn a more "missionary" flavor, by Helen Alexander Dixon, who was

born at Birmingham, England, in 1877.  The daughter of Richard Cadbury, a British

industrialist and philanthropist who was also a Quaker with an interest in the cause of

missions, she attended the University of Birmingham.  Also she studied music and

languages in Germany.  In 1904 she married Charles M. Alexander, a well-known

music publisher … and came to the United States where she was active in the Pocket Testament

League which she founded. 

After his death in 1920, Helen … married Amsji C. Dixon.   Later returning to England,

she died there at Birmingham on Mar. 1, 1969.  In those books which contain all five

stanzas, usually numbers 1, 3, and 5  are by Mrs. Pounds, and numbers 2 and 4 are by Mrs. Alexander. 

C.      THIS HYMN IDENTIFIES SEVERAL TIMES WHERE WE CAN KNOW CHRIST IS WITH US.

Stanza 1I CAN SAFELY GO.

"Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go, Anywhere He leads me in this world below;

Anywhere without Him dearest joys would fade; Anywhere with Jesus I am not afraid."

A.      WHEN WE WALK WE JESUS, WE FOLLOW HIM (John 8:12).  HE MUST LEAD!

          1.       A way of describing discipleship (John 8:31-32), abiding in his teaching (2 John 9).

          2.       Walking with him is walking in the light (1 John 1:6-7).

B.      FOLLOWING JESUS IS SAFETY.

          1.       We are promised his presence (Matt. 28:19-20).

          2.       He knows our distress (Matt. 10:28-31)

          3.       He will deliver from out enemies (2 Tim. 4:18;  Matt. 5:10-12).

          4.       And temptation (1 Cor. 10:13 è Heb. 4:16).  Makes intercession (Heb. 7:25).

C.      OUR DEAREST JOY IS IN OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM (Phil. 4:4, 7).

D.      NO FEAR IN CHRIST (2 Thess. 1:7;  1 John 4:18 è 1 John 4:4).

Stanza 2I AM NOT ALONE.

"Anywhere with Jesus I am not alone; Other friends may fail me, He is still my own;

Though His hand may lead me over drearest ways, Anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise."

A.      SOMETIMES WE FIND OURSELVES IN SITUATIONS LIKE PAUL, WHEN OTHERS

          REALLY DID FORSAKE HIM

          1.       Impending doom (2 Tim. 4:6).

          2.       A dark dungeon(2 Tim. 4:9-16).

          3.       A bright presence (2 Tim. 4:17-18).

B.      IT MAY SEEM THAT THE DREAREST WAYS ARE AHEAD (Psa. 63:1).

          1.       God sees and knows (Psa. 139:7-10).

          2.       Jesus being with us is cause for joyful praise (Phil. 4:4-5;  Heb. 13.15)

Stanza 3:  OVER LAND AND SEA.

"Anywhere with Jesus, over land and sea, Telling souls in darkness of salvation free;

Ready as He summons me to go or stay, Anywhere with Jesus when He points the way."

A.      THE GREAT COMMISSION IS FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN (Mark 16:15-16).

          1.       God’s power to save is in the gospel (Rom. 1:16;  1 Cor. 1:21).

          2.       But it must be preached (Rom. 10:13-15).

          3.       It’s propagation is dependent on a chain reaction (2 Tim. 2:2).

          4.       The need is humongous (Matt. 9:36-38).

B.      WE HAVE BEEN SUMMONED!  ARE WE READY? (Titus 3:1).

Stanza 4:  I CAN GO TO SLEEP.

"Anywhere with Jesus I can go to sleep, When the darkening shadows 'round about me creep;

Knowing I shall waken nevermore to roam, Anywhere with Jesus will be home, sweet home."

A.      “ANYWHERE” MIGHT JUST INCLUDE THAT TIME WE ALL FEAR  (Heb. 9:27).

B.      BUT WE ALL KNOW DEATH IS NOT THE END (John 5:28-29).

          1.       Strange words from Paul (Phil. 1:21).

          2.       We have this promise (John 14:1-3;  2 Cor. 5:1).

          3.       And we have this desire (2 Cor. 5:6-8).

          4.       We don’t want to miss out (2 Cor. 5:9).

CONCLUSION

"Anywhere, anywhere, Fear I cannot know;  Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go."

A.      ANYWHERE WITH JESUS IS A SONG OF FAITH AND TRUST.

B.      ARE YOU READY TO GO WITH JESUS, FOLLOWING HIM DAY BY DAY?