Behold, the Man!
The sermon emphasizes the importance of abiding in Christ to experience true happiness and spiritual fulfillment.
Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the importance of abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ for true happiness, highlighting that many Christians struggle to experience joy because they do not fully rest in Him, who is triumphant over all circumstances. He urges believers to not only understand their position in Christ but to draw near to Him, recognizing Him as the only One who can make their faith experiential. Stanford encourages focusing on the glorified Lord Jesus as the present Object of our hearts in heavenly glory, as our hearts will never be satisfied until He becomes our primary focus.
Text
"[God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus " (Ephesians 2:6).
There aren't many truly happy Christians simply because there aren't many who really abide in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our risen Lord is the source of our happiness as we rest in Him-triumphant over circumstances; not hopelessly underneath them. Happy is the abiding believer, "hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).
"I must not only see my position in the Lord Jesus, but I must come near to the One who set me there. Many are
disappointed that after hearing with delight and receiving the truth of their position they are not more affected by it.
"The reason is that they rest too much in the position and have not occupied themselves increasingly with their risen Lord; have not drawn nearer to Him, and recognized Him as the only One who can make it all experiential in them." -J.B.S.
"Is the living Person now in heavenly glory really the Object of our hearts? For some time after I knew the Savior I used to think of Him as One who had lived and died on earth long years ago, and I well remember the day when I knelt down with a dear brother who prayed that we might know the Lord Jesus as a living Person in heavenly glory, and it dawned upon me that there was a present Object for my heart in heaven. Our hearts will never be satisfied until that glorified Lord Jesus becomes our Object bright and fair. "
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2).
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding our position in Christ - The importance of abiding in Him - The source of true happiness
- II points: - The necessity of drawing near to Christ - Experiencing the reality of our position - The role of personal relationship in faith
- III points: - Recognizing Christ as our present Object - The impact of focusing on heavenly things - Living with a heavenly perspective
- IV points: - The danger of resting in position without relationship - The call to deeper intimacy with the Lord - Finding satisfaction in Christ alone
Key Quotes
“[God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” — Miles J. Stanford
“Happy is the abiding believer, 'hid with Christ in God.'” — Miles J. Stanford
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- Prioritize spending time in prayer and scripture to deepen your relationship with Christ.
- Shift your focus from earthly concerns to heavenly realities to find true joy.
- Recognize Christ as a living presence in your life, not just a historical figure.