Peer Pressure
A divine visitation always leaves us changed, either better or worse, and obedience to God's impulse is crucial to avoid suffering.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the importance of walking after the Lord, fearing Him, keeping His commandments, obeying His voice, serving Him, and cleaving unto Him as stated in Deuteronomy 13:4. She emphasizes that when God visits a soul with new truth, opportunities, or insight, it leads to a significant moment in the person's life, leaving them either better or worse. Tileston highlights that God's servants do not experience disappointment as they trust in His divine designs, even in the face of suffering. She encourages deep devotion and unwavering obedience, noting that the trials and sacrifices are worth it, as seen in the example of Paul's martyrdom.
Text
Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear Him and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him.
--DEUTERONOMY 13:4
GOD visits a soul when He brings before it a new vision of truth or duty, a new range of opportunities, a new endowment of force as well as insight, at some time to which all that precedes has led up, and from which all that follows depends in its solemn history. No Divine visitation leaves us where it found us; it always leaves us better or worse; if not better, then certainly worse.
--HENRY PARRY LIDDON
The issues are with God, and His servants know not the word disappointment, for they are incapable of reading His designs. Only this they know, that the slightest hesitation in obeying what they believe to be a divine impulse, produces a suffering more intense than any consequences which may accrue to them from the world.
--LAURENCE OLIPHANT
Never shrink from deep devotion, because you fear its trials or its sacrifices. Paul, in martyrdom, was unspeakably happier than God's half-hearted servants.
--WILLIAM R. HUNTINGTON
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of Divine Visitation
- The Consequences of Divine Visitation
- The Importance of Obedience
- The Call to Deep Devotion
- Never shrink from deep devotion
- Fear of trials or sacrifices is not a valid reason to hesitate
- A new endowment of force as well as insight
Key Quotes
“No Divine visitation leaves us where it found us; it always leaves us better or worse; if not better, then certainly worse.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Only this they know, that the slightest hesitation in obeying what they believe to be a divine impulse, produces a suffering more intense than any consequences which may accrue to them from the world.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Never shrink from deep devotion, because you fear its trials or its sacrifices.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We should never shrink from deep devotion, even if it means facing trials or sacrifices.
- Obedience to God's impulse is crucial to avoid suffering and its consequences.
- A divine visitation always leaves us changed, either better or worse, and we should be prepared for the consequences of our choices.