Let Me Live Close to Thee

1. Read: James 4:8 – “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

2. About the Text:

1) The song was written by J.R. Baxter, Jr. and the music by Virgil O. Stamps in 1927.

2) These two wrote a number of songs together.

3) This song emphasizes having a close relationship with God as reflected in the title.

4) It is a prayer song that is being spoken to God.

5) It is a prayer to be closer to God, to draw near to God.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “In Thy Field I Would Wield Sickles Brave And True. In The Fight For The Right I Would Dare And Do, Spend My Days In Thy Praise All The Journey Through. Let Me Live Close To Thee Each Day.”

2. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12).

3. “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18).

4. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

5. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

6. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

7. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:11-13).

1. “Not The Crown Nor Renown That The World Might See. I Would Work, Never Shirk Blessed Lord, For Thee, But To Know Where I Go That My Soul Is Free, Let Me Live Close To Thee Each Day.”

2. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

3. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).

4. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).

5. “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25).

6. “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18).

7. “Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11).

8. “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need” (Ephesians 4:28).

9. “that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you” (1 Thessalonians 4:11).

1. “Help Me Bear And To Share Some Poor Pilgrim’s Load. Be My Friend To The End Of The Toilsome Road. I Would Sing To My King In The Soul’s Abode. Let Me Live Close To Thee Each Day.”

2. “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:14).

3. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

4. “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

5. “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).

6. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19).

7. “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” (Acts 2:44-45).

8. “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).

1. The Chorus says: “Let Me Live, Close To Thee. Take My Hand Dear Lord, And Guide Me All All Along The Rugged Way. O Let Me Live, Close To Thee. Let Me Walk And Talk With Thee Dear Lord, Each Day.”

2. How do we live closer to God?

1) Fight the Good Fight of the Faith

2) Do the Lord’s Work in Humility

3) Love God and Love One Another

3. Invitation