Not Separated From Service
To live a life of joy and delight in God's will, we must be near to God, surrender our will, and live in the Spirit.
Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of treasuring God's testimonies as a heritage, bringing joy to the heart. She encourages staying close to the Lord to avoid anything that separates from Him, ensuring uninterrupted joy and delight in His will. Tileston highlights the challenge of surrendering our own will in every aspect of life, being ever ready to obey God's slightest command for future service. Living in the Spirit is portrayed as the ideal state for man, where one hears, knows, loves, and delights in God's will.
Text
Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
PSALMS 119:111
GIRT with the love of God on every side,
Breathing that love as heaven's own healing air,
I work or wait, still following my Guide,
Braving each foe, escaping every snare.
HORATIUS SONAR
THE Lord preserve us near unto Himself, out of that which separates from Him and weakens; and nothing shall be able to interrupt our joy in the Lord, nor our delight and pleasure in His will.
ISAAC PENINGTON
It is easy to make great sacrifices when God does not ask them, but to give up our own will in each detail of life is something far harder. And this is what He does ask. To hold ourselves ever in readiness for His bidding--to count no token of it too slight--such is His call to each. Thus only shall we be ready for further service if He sees fit to lead us on to it.
H. BOWMAN
To live in the Spirit is the right condition of man, his normal condition; and to live in the Spirit is to live with God--hearing Him, and knowing Him, and loving Him, and delighting to do His will.
THOMAS ERSKINE
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Being Near to God
- The Dangers of Separation from God
- The Call to Surrender Our Will
- Living in the Spirit and with God
- Hearing, knowing, and loving God
- Delighting in God's will is our normal condition
Key Quotes
“To hold ourselves ever in readiness for His bidding--to count no token of it too slight--such is His call to each.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“To live in the Spirit is the right condition of man, his normal condition; and to live in the Spirit is to live with God--hearing Him, and knowing Him, and loving Him, and delighting to do His will.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We must be willing to surrender our own will and desires to follow God's guidance.
- Living in the Spirit and with God is our normal condition, and it brings joy and delight in His will.
- Being near to God requires us to hold ourselves in readiness for His bidding and to count no token of it too slight.