Tempered and Tried
The sermon emphasizes the importance of faith and patience in the Christian life, and how the Lord tests and tempers us to produce sainthood and harmony with Heaven's key-note.
Charles E. Cowman preaches on the importance of faith and patience in inheriting God's promises, drawing inspiration from the heroes of faith who have gone before us. He emphasizes the necessity of faith and patience, highlighting that through trials and testing, God tempers and refines us to fulfill His purpose. Just as a blacksmith tests steel for tempering, God tests us through challenges and trials to mold us into vessels fit for His use, reminding us to endure and trust in His refining process.
Text
"Followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Heb. 6:12).
They (heroes of faith) are calling to us from the heights that they have won, and telling us that what man once did man can do again. Not only do they remind us of the necessity of faith, but also of that patience by which faith has its perfect work. Let us fear to take ourselves out of the hands of our heavenly Guide or to miss a single lesson of His loving discipline by discouragement or doubt.
"There is only one thing," said a village blacksmith, "that I fear, and that is to be thrown on the scrap heap.
"When I am tempering a piece of steel, I first beat it, hammer it, and then suddenly plunge it into this bucket of cold water. I very soon find whether it will take temper or go to pieces in the process. When I discover after one or two tests that it is not going to allow itself to be tempered, I throw it on the scrap heap and sell it for a cent a pound when the junk man comes around.
"So I find the Lord tests me, too, by fire and water and heavy blows of His heavy hammer, and if I am not willing to stand the test, or am not going to prove a fit subject for His tempering process, I am afraid He may throw me on the scrap heap."
When the fire is hottest, hold still, for there will be a blessed "afterward"; and with Job we may be able to say, "When he hath tried me I shall come forth as gold." --Selected
Sainthood springs out of suffering. It takes eleven tons of pressure on a piano to tune it. God will tune you to harmonize with Heaven's key-note if you can stand the strain.
"Things that hurt and things that mar
Shape the man for perfect praise;
Shock and strain and ruin are
Friendlier than the smiling days."
Sermon Outline
- The Call to Faith and Patience
- The Process of Tempering
- The Result of Tempering
- Sainthood Springs from Suffering
- The Importance of Standing the Test
Key Quotes
“When I am tempering a piece of steel, I first beat it, hammer it, and then suddenly plunge it into this bucket of cold water.” — Charles E. Cowman
“So I find the Lord tests me, too, by fire and water and heavy blows of His heavy hammer, and if I am not willing to stand the test, or am not going to prove a fit subject for His tempering process, I am afraid He may throw me on the scrap heap.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Things that hurt and things that mar Shape the man for perfect praise;” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We must be willing to stand the test of the Lord's discipline and be tempered and tried in order to be produced as gold.
- Patience is essential for allowing faith to have its perfect work and for being tempered and tried by the Lord.
- The Lord's guidance and discipline are essential for producing sainthood and harmony with Heaven's key-note.