God's Messengers
God sends people into our lives to test our faith and love, and to bring us to a deeper understanding of His love and protection.
Elisabeth Elliot preaches on how God can use those who annoy or offend us as His messengers, pushing us to seek His help for kindness, love, and patience beyond our own capabilities. She emphasizes that even our enemies can drive us to cry out to God, who will go to great lengths to draw us closer to Him. Quoting Hebrews 12:3,4,6, she encourages not losing heart in facing opposition, reminding that the Lord disciplines those He loves.
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How can this person who so annoys or offends me be God's messenger? Is God so unkind as to send that sort across my path? Insofar as his treatment of me requires more kindness than I can find in my own heart, demands love of a quality I do not possess, asks of me patience which only the Spirit of God can produce in me, he is God's messenger. God sends him in order that he may send me running to God for help.
The Psalms are full of cries to God about enemies--but it was the enemies that drove the psalmist (for example, in Psalm 64) to cry. If he had had no enemies, he would have had no need of a Protector. God will go to any lengths to bring us to Himself.
"Think of him who submitted to such opposition from sinners: that will help you not to lose heart and grow faint....You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood....The Lord disciplines those whom he loves" (Heb 12:3,4,6 NEB).
Sermon Outline
- God's Messengers in Our Lives
- The Purpose of God's Messengers
- To drive us to God for help
- To bring us to a deeper understanding of God's love and protection
Key Quotes
“Insofar as his treatment of me requires more kindness than I can find in my own heart, demands love of a quality I do not possess, asks of me patience which only the Spirit of God can produce in me, he is God's messenger.” — Elisabeth Elliot
“Think of him who submitted to such opposition from sinners: that will help you not to lose heart and grow faint....You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood....The Lord disciplines those whom he loves” — Elisabeth Elliot
Application Points
- When faced with opposition, remember that God is using it to bring you to a deeper understanding of His love and protection.
- Respond to difficult people with kindness and patience, seeing them as God's messengers sent to test your faith and love.
- Don't lose heart when faced with adversity, but remember that you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood, and that the Lord disciplines those whom He loves.