"MORE HOLINESS GIVE ME"
"…Perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7.1)
INTRO.: A song which encourages us to perfect holiness and asks God for His help in doing so is "More Holiness Give Me" (#352 in Hymns for Worship Revised and #44 in Sacred Selections for the Church). The text was written and the tune (My Prayer) was composed both by Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876). A native of Pennsylvania, Bliss became an itinerant music teacher but left a promising secular music career to join with revival evangelists Dwight L. Moody and Daniel W. Whittle as a songwriter and music director for their campaigns. He was killed in a tragic train wreck near Ashtabula, OH.
"More Holiness Give Me" first appeared under the title "My Prayer" in the author’s second collection of hymns, Sunshine for the Sunday Schools, published in 1873 by the John Church Music Co. of Cincinnati, OH. Bliss is still well-known today for several famous songs, such as "Almost Persuaded," "Wonderful Words of Life," "Hallelujah! What a Savior," and "The Light of the World Is Jesus," among others. Almost all hymnbooks published by members of the Lord’s church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ have included in"More Holiness Give Me."
It appeared in the 1921 Great Songs of the Church (No. 1) and the 1937 Great Songs of the Church No. 2 both edited by E. L. Jorgenson; the 1935 Christian Hymns (No. 1), the 1948 Christian Hymns No. 2, and the 1966 Christian Hymns No. 3 all edited by L. O. Sanderson; the 1963 Abiding Hymns edited by Robert C. Welch; and the 1963 Christian Hymnal edited by J. Nelson Slater. Today it may be found in the 1971 Songs of the Church, the 1990 Songs of the Church 21st C. Ed., and the 1994 Songs of Faith and Praise all edited by Alton H. Howard; the 1978/1983 Church Gospel Songs and Hymns edited by V. E. Howard; the 1986 Great Songs Revised edited by Forrest M. McCann; and the 1992 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand; in addition to Hymns for Worship, Sacred Selections, and the 2007 Sacred Songs of the Church edited by William D. Jeffcoat.
The song makes several practical suggestions on how to be more holy.
I. Stanza 1 looks inward.
"More holiness give me, More strivings within,
More patience in suffering, More sorrow for sin,
More faith in my Savior, More sense of His care,
More joy in His service, More purpose in prayer."
A. One thing necessary to perfecting holiness is to look within and, knowing that we shall face suffering in this life, work to develop more patience in our tribulations: Jas. 1.2-4
B. Something that will help in developing patience is to walk by faith in the Savior and thus be aware of His constant care for us: 2 Cor. 5.7, 1 Pet. 5.7
C. Other characteristics that will assist in developing patience is to have joy in the service of the Lord and continually going to Him in prayer to cast our cares upon Him: Phil. 4.4-6
II. Stanza 2 looks upward in gratitude and trust to the Lord
"More gratitude give me, More trust in the Lord,
More praise for His glory, More hope in His word,
More tears for His sorrows, More pain at His grief,
More meekness in trial, More praise for relief."
A. As we look up in gratitude and trust to the Lord, we will want to praise His glory because our hope is in His word: Acts 20.32, 1 Pet. 1.3-5
B. This hope is possible because of His sorrows and grief in His death for our sins: Rom. 5.8, 1 Cor. 15.3
C. Our remembrance of His suffering should motivate us to exhibit more meekness in our trials as well: Rom. 5.3-4
III. Stanza 3 looks outward to the kind of purity and strength that would be a good influence on others
"More purity give me, More strength to o’ercome,
More freedom from earthstains, More longings for home,
More fit for the kingdom, More useful I’d be,
More blessed and holy, More, Savior, like Thee."
A. In order to be an influence for good on others, we must keep ourselves unspotted from the world with the knowledge that we are but pilgrims and strangers here who are looking for a better home: Jas. 1.27, 1 Pet. 2.11-12
B. When we practice such principles in our lives, then we shall be more fit for use in the Master’s kingdom: 2 Tim. 2.20-21
C. But the most important thing that we need to remember in trying to be a good influence for Jesus is that He wants us to be like Him: 1 Pet. 2.21-23
CONCL.: The evident purpose of this song is to cause us to aspire to better lives and service before the Lord. It is a hymn that every Christian would do well to commit to memory and meditate upon from time to time, especially when we are tempted to be less than what Christ wants us to be. Because Jesus died for me and wants me to live with Him forever in heaven, my request throughout life to Him should be, "More Holiness Give Me."
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