Greatest Gifts Come Through Travail
The greatest gifts of God come through the trials and sufferings of life, and it is in these moments that we can learn to develop strong faith and trust in God.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about the importance of enduring great trials to strengthen our faith, drawing inspiration from the unwavering faith of Abraham in Romans 4:18-19. He emphasizes that the strongest faith is developed in the midst of great afflictions, teaching us to hold onto God's promises even when everything else fails. Cowman encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty and to find comfort in knowing that through trials and suffering, God is preparing us for His greater purposes.
Text
"For Abraham, when hope was gone, hoped on in faith. His faith never quailed" (Rom. 4:18-19).
We shall never forget a remark that George Mueller once made to a gentleman who had asked him the best way to have strong faith.
"The only way," replied the patriarch of faith, "to learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings." This is very true. The time to trust is when all else fails.
Dear one, you scarcely realize the value of your present opportunity; if you are passing through great afflictions you are in the very soul of the strongest faith, and if you will only let go, He will teach you in these hours the mightiest hold upon His throne which you can ever know.
"Be not afraid, only believe." And if you are afraid, just look up and say, "What time I am afraid I will trust in thee," and you will yet thank God for the school of sorrow which was to you the school of faith. --A. B. Simpson
"Great faith must have great trials."
"God's greatest gifts come through travail. Whether we look into the spiritual or temporal sphere, can we discover anything, any great reform, any beneficent discovery, any soul-awakening revival, which did not come through the toils and tears, the vigils and blood-shedding of men and women whose sufferings were the pangs of its birth? If the temple of God is raised, David must bear sore afflictions; if the Gospel of the grace of God is to be disentangled from Jewish tradition, Paul's life must be one long agony."
"Take heart, O weary, burdened one, bowed down
Beneath thy cross;
Remember that thy greatest gain may come
Through greatest loss.
Thy life is nobler for a sacrifice,
And more divine.
Acres of bloom are crushed to make a drop
Of perfume fine.
"Because of storms that lash the ocean waves,
The waters there
Keep purer than if the heavens o'erhead
Were always fair.
The brightest banner of the skies floats not
At noonday warm;
The rainbow traileth after thunder-clouds,
And after storm."
Sermon Outline
- Faith Through Trials points: - Abraham's faith never quailed - George Mueller's experience with strong faith - The value of present opportunity
- Great Faith Requires Great Trials points: - A. B. Simpson's quote - God's greatest gifts come through travail - Examples of great reform and discovery
- Lessons from Suffering points: - Take heart, O weary one - Greatest gain through greatest loss - Life is nobler for a sacrifice
Key Quotes
“The only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials.” — Charles E. Cowman
“God's greatest gifts come through travail.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Take heart, O weary, burdened one, bowed down beneath thy cross; Remember that thy greatest gain may come through greatest loss.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- When faced with trials and suffering, remember that God is teaching you something and that you can learn to develop strong faith.
- Your greatest gain may come through your greatest loss, so do not be afraid to sacrifice and trust in God.
- Life is nobler and more divine when we are willing to suffer for the sake of God's kingdom.