Resisting God, an Effectual Bar to Grace.
The sermon emphasizes the importance of faith and humility in receiving God's grace and peace, and warns against the dangers of resisting God's demands.
Greek Word Studies for aid_number 34429 preaches about the manifold wisdom of God, emphasizing its diverse, multi-colored, and multi-faceted nature that surpasses human understanding. The wisdom of God, revealed in Christ, is infinitely diversified and inexhaustible, far beyond what was previously known. It warns against trying to confine God's complex purposes into limited theological boxes, urging worship and praise for His intricate wisdom and love.
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LETTER XXXVIII.
Resisting God, an effectual bar to grace.
You perceive, by the light of God, in the depth of your conscience, what grace demands of you, but you resist Him. Hence your distress. You begin to say within, it is impossible for me to undertake to do what is required of me; this is a temptation to despair. Despair as much as you please of self, but never of God; He is all good and all powerful, and will grant you according to your faith. If you will believe all things, all things shall be yours, and you shall remove mountains. If you believe nothing, you shall have nothing, but you alone will be to blame. Look at Mary, who, when the most incredible thing in the world was proposed to her, did not hesitate, but exclaimed; "be it unto me according to thy word." (Luke i. 38.)
Open, then your heart. It is now so shut up, that you not only have not the power to do what is required of you, but you do not even desire to have it; you have no wish that your heart should be enlarged, and you fear that it will be. How can grace find room in so straitened a heart? All that I ask of you is, that you will rest in a teachable spirit of faith, and that you will not listen to self. Simply acquiesce in everything with lowliness of mind, and receive peace through recollection, and everything will be gradually accomplished for you; those things which, in your hour of temptation, seemed the greatest difficulties, will be insensibly smoothed away.
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Resistance
- You resist God's demands
- This leads to distress and despair
- But God is all good and all powerful
Key Quotes
“Despair as much as you please of self, but never of God; He is all good and all powerful, and will grant you according to your faith.” — Francois Fenelon
“If you will believe all things, all things shall be yours, and you shall remove mountains.” — Francois Fenelon
“Simply acquiesce in everything with lowliness of mind, and receive peace through recollection, and everything will be gradually accomplished for you;” — Francois Fenelon
Application Points
- Rest in a teachable spirit of faith and acquiesce in everything with lowliness of mind to receive God's peace.
- Believe all things and have all things according to your faith to receive God's grace.
- Despair of self, but never of God's power and goodness to overcome resistance.