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  BE STILL AND BE FILLED
  by E. Stanley Jones
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of stilling the mind to
receive God's fullness and become a channel for His unlimited resources.

Topics: "Spiritual Receptivity", "Gods Grace"
Scripture References: Psalm 46:10, John 10:10, John 14:13, John 15:16, Philippians 4:6

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DESCRIPTION
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E. Stanley Jones emphasizes the importance of stillness and receptivity
in preaching, highlighting the need to quiet the mind and repeat the
verse 'Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you' to become receptive
to God's message. Preaching is not about striving but about being a
channel for God's unlimited resources, allowing His grace to fill and
sustain us. By being still and connecting with God, we tap into His
abundant fullness and receive His life.

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CONTENT
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Whenever I am about to speak I ask the audience to bow their heads in
silent prayer. In that silence I always repeat my verse. "Ye have not
chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and
bear fruit and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye ask of
the Father in my name, he may give it you." The stilling of the mind by
the repetition of that verse makes it receptive. I am living in the
passive voice. Preaching then is not eager straining, it is receptivity
ending in release. The speaker is no longer a reservoir with just so
much to give; he is a channel attached to unlimited resources.

The stilling of the mind reminds you not of your pitiful little store,
but of the fact that you are now harnessing yourself to God's
illimitable fullness.

Prayer is like the fastening of the cup to the wounded side of a pine
tree to allow the resin to pour into it. You are now nestling up into
the side of God -- the wounded side, if you will -- and you allow his
grace to fill your cup. You are taking in the very life of God.

"Be still and know," and you will be full. Be unstill and you will not
know; you will remain empty.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/e-stanley-jones/be-still-and-be-filled/
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