The Sweetness of the Lips
Maintaining God's life and strength requires keeping out things that kill spiritual life and keeping oneself for God and His work.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the profound connection between our spiritual and physical well-being, warning that even minor spiritual ailments can disrupt the flow of divine life within us. He highlights the detrimental effects of negative emotions such as worry, malice, and jealousy, which can drain our vitality more than physical exertion. Simpson advocates for cultivating a spirit of pleasantness, tranquility, and the peace of God, which are essential for maintaining health. He encourages listeners to guard against spiritual infections and to dedicate themselves to God's work to experience abundant life and strength.
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Spiritual conditions are inseparably connected with our physical life. The flow of the divine life-currents may be interrupted by a little clot of blood; the vital current may leak out through a very small wound. If you want to keep the health of Christ, keep from all spiritual infections, from all heart wounds and irritations. One hour of worry will wear out more vitality than a week of work; one minute of malice or jealousy or envy will hurt more than a drink of poison. Pleasantness of spirit and joyousness of heart are essential to full health.
Quietness of spirit, gentleness, tranquility and the peace of God that passes all understanding are worth more than all the sleeping pills in the country.
We do not wonder that some people have poor health when we hear them talk for half an hour. They have enough dislikes, prejudices, doubts and fears to exhaust the strongest constitution. My friend, if you would maintain God's life and strength, keep out the things that kill it. Keep yourself for Him and for His work, and you will find enough and to spare.
Sermon Outline
- The Connection Between Spiritual and Physical Life points: - Spiritual conditions affect our physical health - The flow of divine life-currents can be interrupted by spiritual infections
- The Importance of Spiritual Health points: - Pleasantness of spirit and joyousness of heart are essential to full health - Quietness of spirit, gentleness, and tranquility are vital for well-being
- The Dangers of Spiritual Infections points: - Worry, malice, jealousy, and envy can wear out vitality - Dislikes, prejudices, doubts, and fears can exhaust the strongest constitution
- Maintaining God's Life and Strength points: - Keep out things that kill spiritual life - Keep yourself for God and His work
Key Quotes
“One hour of worry will wear out more vitality than a week of work;” — A.B. Simpson
“Quietness of spirit, gentleness, tranquility and the peace of God that passes all understanding are worth more than all the sleeping pills in the country.” — A.B. Simpson
“My friend, if you would maintain God's life and strength, keep out the things that kill it.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Keep yourself from spiritual infections by avoiding worry, malice, jealousy, envy, and other negative emotions.
- Prioritize spiritual health by cultivating a pleasant spirit, joyous heart, quietness, gentleness, and tranquility.
- Maintain God's life and strength by keeping yourself for Him and His work.