No Fear on the Journey
The sermon encourages listeners to follow Christ without fear or reservations, trusting in His presence and guidance.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the importance of following Jesus wholeheartedly, even in the face of fear, trembling, and uncertainty, urging believers to trust in God's strength and guidance. She emphasizes the need to overcome cowardice and hardness of heart, asking for the Lord's help to subdue any resistance to following Him. Tileston highlights the challenge of anticipating the consequences of following Christ, drawing parallels to the experiences of Peter and the sacrifices made by true disciples who are willing to go wherever Jesus leads, regardless of the difficulties and dangers.
Text
Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them.
DEUTERONOMY 20:3
SON of the living God! Oh, call us
Once and again to follow Thee,
And give us strength, whate'er befall us,
Thy true disciples still to be.
And if our coward hearts deny Thee,
In inmost thought, or deed, or word,
Let not our hardness still defy Thee,
But with a look subdue us, Lord.
HENRY A. MARTIN
HALF our difficulty in doing anything worthy of our high calling, is the shrinking anticipation of its possible after-consequences. But if Peter had tarried, and cast up all that was to come, the poverty, and wandering, and solitude, and lonely old age, the out-cast life, and chance of a fearful death, it may be he would have been neither an Apostle nor a Christian.
HENRY EDWARD MANNING
Some men will follow Christ on certain conditions--if He will not lead them through rough roads--if He will not enjoin them any painful tasks--if the sun and wind do not annoy them--if He will remit a part of His plan and order. But the true Christian, who has the spirit of Jesus, will say, as Ruth said to Naomi, "Whither thou goest I will go," whatever difficulties and dangers may be in the way.
RICHARD CECIL
Sermon Outline
- The Call to Courage
- The Strength of True Disciples
- The Cost of Discipleship
- The True Christian's Response
- Following Christ without conditions or reservations
- Ruth's example of devotion and commitment
Key Quotes
“Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Some men will follow Christ on certain conditions--if He will not lead them through rough roads--if He will not enjoin them any painful tasks--if the sun and wind do not annoy them--if He will remit a part of His plan and order.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“But the true Christian, who has the spirit of Jesus, will say, as Ruth said to Naomi, 'Whither thou goest I will go,' whatever difficulties and dangers may be in the way.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Remember that God is with you and will give you the strength you need to follow Him, even in difficult times.
- Be willing to follow Christ, even when it's difficult, and trust in His plan and order.
- Develop the spirit of Jesus by being obedient and trusting in God's presence and guidance.