His Way and Time
The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting God's timing and purposes, and the need for patience and longsuffering in our walk with Him.
Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the importance of walking worthy of the Lord, being fruitful in good works, and increasing in the knowledge of God. He highlights the significance of aligning our will with the Father's purpose, surrendering to God's will with the prayer 'Thy will be done,' and maturing in soul through knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Stanford stresses the need for patience in allowing God to work in His timing, especially in the process of restoring souls and developing love in relationships with others.
Text
"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of Cod." (Colossians 1:10).
When once we see and accept our Father's purpose for our lives to the extent that it becomes our will also, the time and details of His process cease to matter. "Thy will be done" (Luke 11:2).
"It is the knowledge of the Lord Jesus that matures the soul. Our Father chooses His opportunities to teach us these things, and when He has accomplished this work the special communications of His wisdom and love no longer continue, for He desires we should walk by faith, according to what we know we possess in the Lord Jesus. Hence our path is in company with a Christ much better known, and in much closer communion with Him.
"After receiving the instruction, we have to return to the ordinary activity of a life of responsibility, and to those relationships with our brethren in which love is developed and exercised, as it is put to "The proof, either in the assembly or in individual relationships."
"Patience is the secret of it all. We want to hurry God sometimes, but we never can. We find this at times in the desire for restoring a soul-a right thing to want, but God must first go to the bottom. "Patience requires thorough confidence in God. He is working His own purposes meanwhile, but I must follow Him, not go before Him. If I am 'strengthened. . . unto all patience,' I shall be longsuffering toward others."
"Strengthened. . . according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering" (Colossians 1:11).
Sermon Outline
- Walking Worthy of the Lord
- The Knowledge of the Lord Jesus
- Patience and Longsuffering
- The secret to God's timing
- Thorough confidence in God's work
Key Quotes
“When once we see and accept our Father's purpose for our lives to the extent that it becomes our will also, the time and details of His process cease to matter.” — Miles J. Stanford
“Patience is the secret of it all. We want to hurry God sometimes, but we never can.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- We should trust God's timing and purposes, even when they seem slow or unclear.
- Patience and longsuffering are essential qualities for a life of faith and trust in God.
- We should cultivate thorough confidence in God's work and purposes in our lives.