Isaiah 66:8
The sermon emphasizes the importance of travail, or painful effort, in achieving success in one's spiritual life and in building the church.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the significance of travail in achieving success, particularly in the context of Christianity. He illustrates how the church was built through the painful efforts of Christ, the apostles, and the Holy Spirit, highlighting that true success in faith requires earnestness and a willingness to suffer for the sake of others. Smith calls for Christians to engage in self-denial, intercession, and witnessing, stressing that dry-eyed Christians cannot effectively reach the world for Christ. He reminds the congregation of the urgency of souls perishing around them and the need for passionate commitment to the Gospel.
Text
Toil, especially painful effort or exertion, suffering.
I. TRAVAILING THE SECRET OF SUCCESS IN ANYTHING.
A. Doctor, Lawyer, Businessman, Scholar.
B. Even more true of religion.
II. TRAVAIL BUILT THE CHURCH.
A. Christianity born in travail.
1. "Being in agony, he sweat as it were."
B. God travailed when He sent His Son.
C. Christ travailed in garden and on cross.
D. Holy Spirit now travailing.
E. Apostles travailed.
1. Paul - "I bear in my body."
F. Early Christianity travail.
III. TRAVAILING CHRISTIANS GREATEST NEED TODAY.
A. In earnest, enthusiastic about everything but Christ.
B. Dry eyed Christians will never win world for Christ.
IV. SOULS PERISHING ALL ABOUT US.
A. Jesus can save them.
B. Me expects us, appeals to us.
V. WE NEED.
A. Travail of self-denial.
B. Travail of intercession.
C. Travail of witnessing.
Sermon Outline
- Travailing the Secret of Success in Anything
- Travail Built the Church
- Travailing Christians Greatest Need Today
- Souls Perishing All About Us
- We Need
- Doctor, Lawyer, Businessman, Scholar
- Even more true of religion
- Christianity born in travail
- God travailed when He sent His Son
- Christ travailed in garden and on cross
- Holy Spirit now travailing
- Apostles travailed
- Early Christianity travail
- In earnest, enthusiastic about everything but Christ
- Dry eyed Christians will never win world for Christ
- Jesus can save them
- Me expects us, appeals to us
- Travail of self-denial
- Travail of intercession
- Travail of witnessing
Key Quotes
“Being in agony, he sweat as it were.” — Chuck Smith
“I bear in my body the marks of Jesus.” — Chuck Smith
“Dry eyed Christians will never win the world for Christ.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Christians need to be more enthusiastic and earnest about Christ in order to win the world for Him.
- Travail, or painful effort, is essential for building the church and achieving spiritual growth.
- Christians can demonstrate travail through self-denial, intercession, and witnessing.