March 23. 1678. the Unknown Warfare.
Jane Lead's sermon emphasizes the spiritual battles we face and the importance of prayer and reliance on God for freedom from worldly burdens.
Jane Lead preaches about the challenges of worldly influences and distractions that hinder our spiritual growth, emphasizing the need to uproot any sinful behaviors or attitudes that prevent us from fully experiencing God's presence and peace. She encourages surrendering our burdens to Immanuel, who empathizes with our struggles and offers to free us from heavy yokes, allowing us to follow God wholeheartedly in an unfamiliar spiritual battle. Through earnest prayer and trust in God's provision of wisdom, strength, and honor, we can find stability and liberation from entanglements that hinder our spiritual journey.
Text
The many Vicissitudes attending from the Worldly-Spirit, striving and thronging for the laying of somewhat of offence still in our Garden-Walks, where only we should be enteretained with Heaven's-Gales, blowing up the Odoriferous Sweets. But unsavory Weeds yet are permitted to spring, and to give for the evil scents, so that hereby we do find great grievance, till all of that kind be displanted. We cannot find Spiritual ease, and we cannot live all serene as in a Lebanon-Spring, till all evil Essences and Spirits be cast out. The pure Unction is hereunto assuredly driving us before him, lest we should linger and lagg behind. Who upon my Soul's groanings did give in this Word.
Your burthens shall be all born away upon the Shoulders of Immanuel, who is touched with your grievances, and will break away the Yoke that is heavy, and set you free, that ye may follow God fully in a Warfare unknown, and that ye shall be discharged of all those entanglements, that have been so detarding to your rising-Life. Only mind your Advocate with earnest Prayer, for the accomplishment of this thing.
This Word came to me, upon some dubious working thoughts in my mind, saying, Dost thou indeed love the Lord thy God with all flowings from thy Heart? Then fear not to trust him withal, whatever does to thee pertain. Who will assign to thee Wisdom, Strength, and Honour, which shall be thy stability.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding the Worldly Spirit - The Impact of Offense in Our Lives - The Need for Spiritual Purity
- II points: - The Role of the Pure Unction - The Importance of Following God - Recognizing Our Advocate
- III points: - The Burden of Grievances - The Promise of Freedom - The Power of Prayer
- IV points: - Embracing the Unknown Warfare - Displacing Evil Spirits - Achieving Spiritual Ease
Key Quotes
“Your burthens shall be all born away upon the Shoulders of Immanuel.” — Jane Lead
“Only mind your Advocate with earnest Prayer, for the accomplishment of this thing.” — Jane Lead
“Dost thou indeed love the Lord thy God with all flowings from thy Heart?” — Jane Lead
Application Points
- Engage in earnest prayer to seek spiritual clarity and strength.
- Identify and remove worldly distractions that hinder your spiritual growth.
- Trust in God's promise to carry your burdens and lead you to freedom.