10 Things I'Ve Learned As a Believer
E.A. Johnston shares ten profound lessons from his Christian journey, emphasizing the abundant life found in Christ through experience, surrender, and faithfulness.
In this topical sermon, E.A. Johnston reflects on ten key lessons he has learned as a believer, highlighting the realities of Christian growth and the abundant life promised by Jesus. Drawing from personal experience and biblical truth, he encourages listeners to embrace God's refining process, deepen their prayer life, and pursue a closer walk with Christ. This message inspires believers to live fully surrendered and confident in God's faithfulness.
Full Transcript
I have been a Christian a long time and I've learned a few things through the years, friends, and I'd like to share some of these things with you this evening. Jesus said in the Gospel of John, I am come that they might have life and that they might have it abundantly, and I want to share these principles with you that I have learned in the abundant life of Christ, and the first is this, friends. God cannot be explained, but he can be experienced.
Number two, if you want more of Jesus, then be prepared to have more of his cross. Number three, we cannot make God move, but he can move us. Number four, it's not the amount of prayer that counts, but the agony in prayer that gains his ear.
Number five, true repentance is a painful process because through it our darling idols are ripped from us permanently. Number six, revival is not only possible, it is probable, as long as we are expendable. Number seven, God builds his servants through his divine process of reducing and decreasing.
Gold must be reduced to its purity in the furnace of affliction. A branch must be trimmed back and decreased before it can grow more fruit, and if we desire usefulness to God, then we must submit both to the refiner's fire and the divine prune and knife. Number eight, be willing to be reduced to nothing so he can be everything through you.
Number nine, God's word is true, and he is true to his word. And lastly, number ten, Jesus is not only wonderful, he is worth it, and it is my prayer, friends, that as we ponder on these things before we go to our own time of prayer, that each of us have a more abundant life in Christ. As we go to our knees right now, let us pray for a richer, more abundant life in him.
Let us pray.
Sermon Outline
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I
- God cannot be explained but can be experienced
- More of Jesus means more of His cross
- God moves us, not the other way around
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II
- The quality of prayer matters more than quantity
- True repentance involves painful idol removal
- Revival is probable when we are expendable
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III
- God refines His servants through reduction and pruning
- Be willing to be reduced to nothing for God to be everything
- God's word is true and He is faithful to it
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IV
- Jesus is wonderful and worth the cost
- Prayer leads to a richer, more abundant life in Christ
Key Quotes
“God cannot be explained, but he can be experienced.” — E.A. Johnston
“If you want more of Jesus, then be prepared to have more of his cross.” — E.A. Johnston
“God builds his servants through his divine process of reducing and decreasing.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Embrace the refining process God uses to grow your faith and character.
- Prioritize sincere, heartfelt prayer over mere quantity of prayer time.
- Be willing to surrender personal ambitions to experience God's abundant life.