Listening Hard for God
The sermon emphasizes the importance of vision in our lives, highlighting the need to wait upon God and have a quiet and restful heart to experience spiritual transformation.
Charles E. Cowman emphasizes the importance of having a vision of God, stating that without it, people perish. He highlights the necessity of waiting upon God to receive this vision, comparing our hearts to sensitive plates that need time in His presence to be revealed. Cowman stresses the transformative power of seeing God, using examples like Jacob, Gideon, and Thomas whose encounters with God changed their lives. He also mentions modern-day individuals like William Carey and David Livingstone, who, after seeing God's vision, dedicated their lives to missions work.
Text
"Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Prov. 19 :18).
Waiting upon God is necessary in order to see Him, to have a vision of Him. The time element in vision is essential. Our hearts are like a sensitive photographer's plate; and in order to have God revealed there, we must sit at His feet a long time. The troubled surface of a lake will not reflect an object.
Our lives must be quiet and restful if we would see God. There is power in the sight of some things to affect one's life. A quiet sunset will bring peace to a troubled heart. Thus the vision of God always transforms human life.
Jacob saw God at Jabbok's ford, and became Israel. The vision of God transformed Gideon from a coward into a valiant soldier. The vision of Christ changed Thomas from a doubting follower into a loyal, devout disciple.
But men have had visions of God since Bible times. William Carey saw God, and left his shoemaker's bench and went to India. David Livingstone saw God, and left all to follow Him through the jungles of dark Africa. Scores and hundreds have had visions of God, and are today in the uttermost parts of the earth working for the speedy evangelization of the heathen.
--Dr. Pardington
There is hardly ever a complete silence in the soul. God is whispering to us well-nigh incessantly. Whenever the sounds of the world die out in the soul, or sink low, then we hear the whisperings of God. He is always whispering to us, only we do not hear, because of the noise, hurry, and distraction which life causes as it rushes on. --F. W. Faber
"Speak, Lord, in the stillness,
While I wait on Thee;
Hushed my heart to listen
In expectancy.
"Speak, O blessed Master,
In this quiet hour;
Let me see Thy face, Lord,
Feet Thy touch of power.
"For the words Thou speakest,
'They are life,' indeed;
Living bread from Heaven,
Now my spirit feed!
"Speak, Thy servant heareth!
Be not silent, Lord;
Waits my soul upon Thee
For the quickening word!"
Sermon Outline
- I. The Importance of Vision
- A. Without vision, people perish (Prov. 19:18)
- B. Vision requires waiting upon God
- II. The Time Element in Vision
- A. Our hearts must be quiet and restful
- B. The troubled surface of a lake will not reflect an object
- III. The Power of Vision
- A. Vision transforms human life
- 'B. Examples of people transformed by vision: Jacob, Gideon, Thomas'
Key Quotes
“Where there is no vision, the people perish” — Charles E. Cowman
“Speak, Lord, in the stillness, While I wait on Thee;” — Charles E. Cowman
“Speak, O blessed Master, In this quiet hour;” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We must prioritize quieting our hearts and listening for God's voice amidst the noise and distractions of life.
- Waiting upon God is essential for experiencing spiritual transformation and growth.
- A vision of God can transform our lives, just like it did for Jacob, Gideon, and Thomas.