Applicable Application
The sermon emphasizes the importance of being under the effect of Scripture and being in communion with God in order to minister effectively and lead others to Christ.
Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the importance of believers not flaunting or mishandling their spiritual riches in Christ Jesus, but rather being stewards who minister aptly to the various needs of others. He highlights the need for believers to draw from Christ Himself, not just from knowledge about Him, in order to truly impact others. Stanford encourages believers to allow their own experiences of comfort and tribulation to equip them to comfort others in need, reflecting the comfort they have received from God.
Text
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3).
We have all cringed at the sad spectacle of the "nouveau riche." And yet many of us as believers present the same failure--flaunting and mishandling our spiritual riches in Christ Jesus.
"The Lord deals with us in order that we might be able to minister in an apt way. His stewards are to be men of understanding, who can touch the various needs, who can reach the heart, so that the Lord's children are saying: That just fits me! That touches my case! That person must know! That one must have been through it! Yes, the Lord knows, and He would take you and me through experiences such as will make us sharers in a living way--and that is what He is doing." -T. A-S.
"It is a new day to your soul when you realize that Christ is the Source of everything, and that it is from Himself you must draw, and not from ministry about Him. Many can explain Scripture and even apply it, who are not under the effect of it themselves. They have not come from Him, and are not themselves imbued with that which they are trying to convey.
"There is much wise counsel and good teaching which is not applicable to the moment and to the need. It does not effect what is the Lord's desire as the end of the ministry, which is to lead the soul to Himself, because it is not spoken in communion with Himself. You must first get to where He is, and then you are brought into harmony with the scene where He is."
"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God" (2 Corinthians 1:4).
Sermon Outline
- I. The Failure of the 'Nouveau Riche'
- A. Flaunting spiritual riches in Christ Jesus
- B. Mishandling God's gifts and blessings
- II. The Lord's Method of Ministry
- A. Dealing with us to minister in an apt way
- B. Making us sharers in a living way
- III. The Source of Everything
- A. Christ as the Source of all blessings
- B. Drawing from Christ, not from ministry about Him
- IV. The Importance of Communion with God
- A. Getting to where God is
- B. Being brought into harmony with God's desires
Key Quotes
“'The Lord deals with us in order that we might be able to minister in an apt way. His stewards are to be men of understanding, who can touch the various needs, who can reach the heart, so that the Lord's children are saying: That just fits me! That touches my case! That person must know! That one must have been through it! Yes, the Lord knows, and He would take you and me through experiences such as will make us sharers in a living way--and that is what He is doing.' -T. A-S.” — Miles J. Stanford
“'It is a new day to your soul when you realize that Christ is the Source of everything, and that it is from Himself you must draw, and not from ministry about Him.'” — Miles J. Stanford
“'Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God' (2 Corinthians 1:4).” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- We must be careful not to flaunt our spiritual riches and instead draw from Christ in our ministry.
- Effective ministry requires being in communion with God and being led by His Spirit.
- We must be authentic in our ministry, drawing from our own experiences and relationship with Christ.