Shut Up to Faith
When we are shut up to faith, we are confined to a place where we must rely on God's way of faith to find deliverance and salvation.
Charles E. Cowman preaches on the theme 'Shut up to faith' based on Galatians 3:23, emphasizing how God often allows circumstances and trials to shut us up to faith, leading us to realize our helplessness and the need to trust in God's way of faith. The sermon highlights examples like Moses, Paul, Silas, and John who were shut up to faith in various situations, ultimately experiencing God's deliverance and revelations. Cowman encourages listeners facing troubles, disappointments, or losses to see them as opportunities to trust in God, praising Him and waiting for His work, which brings blessings and light even in the darkest times.
Text
"Shut up to faith" (Gal. 3:23).
God, in olden time suffered man to be kept in ward by the law that he might learn the more excellent way of faith. For by the law he would see God's holy standard and by the law he would see his own utter helplessness; then he would be glad to learn God's way of faith.
God still shuts us up to faith. Our natures, our circumstances, trials, disappointments, all serve to shut us up and keep us in ward till we see that the only way out is God's way of faith. Moses tried by self-effort, by personal influence, even by violence, to bring about the deliverance of his people. God had to shut him up forty years in the wilderness before he was prepared for God's work.
Paul and Silas were bidden of God to preach the Gospel in Europe. They landed and proceeded to Philippi. They were flogged, they were shut up in prison, their feet were put fast in the stocks. They were shut up to faith. They trusted God. They sang praises to Him in the darkest hour, and God wrought deliverance and salvation.
John was banished to the Isle of Patmos. He was shut up to faith. Had he not been so shut up, he would never have seen such glorious visions of God.
Dear reader, are you in some great trouble? Have you had some great disappointment, have you met some sorrow, some unspeakable loss? Are you in a hard place? Cheer up! You are shut up to faith. Take your trouble the right way. Commit it to God. Praise Him that He maketh "all things work together for good," and that "God worketh for him that waiteth for him." There will be blessings, help and revelations of God that will come to you that never could otherwise have come; and many besides yourself will receive great light and blessing because you were shut up to faith.--C. H. P
"Great things are done when men and mountains meet,
These are not done by jostling in the street."
Sermon Outline
- God's Way of Faith
- God Shuts Us Up to Faith
- Examples of Shutting Up to Faith
- Taking Trouble the Right Way
- Committing Trouble to God
- Praising God's Sovereignty
- John on the Isle of Patmos
Key Quotes
“Great things are done when men and mountains meet, These are not done by jostling in the street.” — Charles E. Cowman
“God, in olden time suffered man to be kept in ward by the law that he might learn the more excellent way of faith.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Praise Him that He maketh 'all things work together for good,' and that 'God worketh for him that waiteth for him.'” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- When faced with trouble, commit it to God and praise Him for His sovereignty.
- Rely on God's way of faith to find deliverance and salvation.
- Trust in God's sovereignty and wait for Him to work everything out for our good.