Steady in Our Walk
The sermon emphasizes the importance of establishing a committed and steady relationship with Christ to overcome life's challenges and grow in faith.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about the importance of establishing, strengthening, and settling in our relationship with Christ. He emphasizes the need for intellectual understanding and a committed choice to stand in this new relationship without reservation. Just as a broken arm needs to be set and stabilized, God desires to establish His children in faith until it becomes a permanent habit, despite the challenges and trials they may face.
Text
"Stablish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Peter 5:10).
In taking Christ in any new relationship, we must first have sufficient intellectual light to satisfy our mind that we are entitled to stand in this relationship. The shadow of a question here will wreck our confidence. Then, having seen this, we must make the venture, the committal, the choice, and take the place just as definitely as the tree is planted in the soil, or the bride gives herself away at the marriage altar. It must be once for all, without reserve, without recall.
Then there is a season of establishing, settling and testing, during which we must "stay put" until the new relationship gets so fixed as to become a permanent habit. It is just the same as when the surgeon sets the broken arm. He puts it in splints to keep it from vibration. So God has His spiritual splints that He wants to put upon His children and keep them quiet and unmoved until they pass the first stage of faith. It is not always easy work for us, "but the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Jesus Christ, after that ye have suffered awhile, stablish, strengthen, settle you." --A. B. Simpson
There is a natural law in sin and sickness; and if we just let ourselves go and sink into the trend of circumstances, we shall go down and sink under the power of the tempter. But there is another law of spiritual life and of physical life in Christ Jesus to which we can rise, and through which we can counterpoise and overcome the other law that bears us down.
But to do this requires real spiritual energy and fixed purpose and a settled posture and habit of faith. It is just the same as when we use the power in our factory. We must turn on the belt and keep it on. The power is there, but we must keep the connection; and while we do so, the higher power will work and all the machinery will be in operation.
There is a spiritual law of choosing, believing, abiding, and holding steady in our walk with God, which is essential to the working of the Holy Ghost either in our sanctification or healing. --Days of Heaven upon Earth
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding our relationship with Christ
- The importance of intellectual light
- The necessity of commitment
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II
- The process of establishing faith
- The role of spiritual splints
- The significance of patience in faith
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III
- The law of sin and sickness
- The law of spiritual life in Christ
- Overcoming negative circumstances
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IV
- The need for spiritual energy
- Maintaining a fixed purpose
- The importance of a steady walk with God
Key Quotes
“Stablish, strengthen, settle you.” — Charles E. Cowman
“The God of all grace... after that ye have suffered awhile, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” — Charles E. Cowman
“There is a spiritual law of choosing, believing, abiding, and holding steady in our walk with God.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- Commit fully to your relationship with Christ and make it a permanent part of your life.
- Practice patience and allow your faith to become deeply rooted through consistent spiritual disciplines.
- Stay connected to God to harness His power in overcoming life's challenges.