Restlessness of Soul -- Directing Our Final Intention Toward God
The sermon emphasizes the importance of directing our intentions toward God amidst the restlessness and changes of life.
Thomas a Kempis preaches about the importance of maintaining a steadfast spirit and unwavering intention towards God, despite the changing feelings and circumstances in life. He emphasizes the need to focus on the desired end goal and to stand undivided and unshaken in faith, even amidst various storms and distractions. A pure and single-hearted intention towards God is highlighted as essential, as many are often drawn to self-seeking or external attractions rather than seeking God for His sake alone.
Text
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, do not trust in your present feeling, for it will soon give way to another. As long as you live you will be subject to changeableness in spite of yourself. You will become merry at one time and sad at another, now peaceful but again disturbed, at one moment devout and the next indevout, sometimes diligent while at other times lazy, now grave and again flippant.
But the man who is wise and whose spirit is well instructed stands superior to these changes. He pays no attention to what he feels in himself or from what quarter the wind of fickleness blows, so long as the whole intention of his mind is conducive to his proper and desired end. For thus he can stand undivided, unchanged, and unshaken, with the singleness of his intention directed unwaveringly toward Me, even in the midst of so many changing events. And the purer this singleness of intention is, with so much the more constancy does he pass through many storms.
But in many ways the eye of pure intention grows dim, because it is attracted to any delightful thing that it meets. Indeed, it is rare to find one who is entirely free from all taint of self-seeking. The Jews of old, for example, came to Bethany to Martha and Mary, not for Jesus' sake alone, but in order to see Lazarus.
The eye of your intention, therefore, must be cleansed so that it is single and right. It must be directed toward Me, despite all the objects which may interfere.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding the Nature of Restlessness
- The Impact of Changeable Feelings
- The Importance of Stability in Intention
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II
- The Role of Wisdom in Navigating Emotions
- Maintaining Focus Amidst Life's Changes
- The Power of a Pure Intention
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III
- The Dangers of Self-Seeking
- Examples from Scripture
- Cleansing the Eye of Intention
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IV
- The Path to Unwavering Faith
- The Strength Found in Divine Focus
- Cultivating a Heart Directed Toward God
Key Quotes
“The man who is wise and whose spirit is well instructed stands superior to these changes.” — Thomas a Kempis
“The eye of your intention, therefore, must be cleansed so that it is single and right.” — Thomas a Kempis
“It is rare to find one who is entirely free from all taint of self-seeking.” — Thomas a Kempis
Application Points
- Focus on your intentions rather than fleeting emotions to find peace.
- Regularly examine your motivations to ensure they align with a desire for God.
- Cultivate a steadfast heart that remains directed toward God despite life's storms.