The World and I Am Well Agreed
The sermon emphasizes the importance of assurance in faith to overcome worldly temptations and prioritize spiritual communion with Christ.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the power of assurance in Christ to keep believers from being overly attached to worldly desires and temptations. He illustrates this through the examples of Moses and Paul, who, grounded in their assurance of God's love and eternal reward, disregarded the fleeting glories of the world. Brooks argues that true assurance leads to a heart that is dead to worldly pursuits, as exemplified by Lazarus, who, after his resurrection, found no joy in earthly things. He calls for Christians to cultivate this assurance to avoid the dishonor of God and the reproach of the gospel. Ultimately, Brooks encourages believers to prioritize their communion with Christ over worldly glory.
Text
Assurance will keep the heart from an inordinate
running out after the world, and the glory thereof.
Moses, having an assurance of the recompense of
reward, and of God's love and favor, could not be
drawn by all the honors, pleasures, and treasures
of Egypt. He slights all, and tramples upon all the
glory of the world, as men trample upon things of
no worth, Heb. 11:24-27.
So after Paul had been in the third heaven, and had
assurance that nothing should separate him from the
love of God in Christ, he looks upon the world as a
crucified thing: "The world is crucified to me," says
he, 2 Cor. 12:1-3, and Rom. 8:38; "and I am crucified
unto the world," Gal. 6:14. The world is dead to me,
and I am dead to it: the world and I am well
agreed--the world cares not a pin for me, and I
care not a pin for the world.
I have read of Lazarus, that after he was raised
from the grave, he was never seen to smile. The
assurance that he had of more glorious things,
deadened his heart to the things of this world;
he saw nothing in them worthy of a smile. Ah!
were there more assurance among Christians,
there would not be such tugging for the world,
and such greedy hunting and pursuing after it, as
is in these days, to the dishonor of God, the
reproach of Christ, and the shame of the gospel.
So when God gave Galeacius, that Italian marquis,
an assurance of everlasting happiness, he withstood
many golden temptations, and cried out, 'Cursed be
he who prefers all the glory of the world to one
day's communion with Christ!'
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The importance of assurance in faith - Examples of biblical figures demonstrating assurance - The impact of assurance on worldly desires
- II points: - Moses' rejection of worldly glory - Paul's perspective on the world - The concept of being crucified to the world
- III points: - The story of Lazarus and his assurance - The consequences of lacking assurance - The call for Christians to seek assurance
- IV points: - The example of Galeacius and his temptations - The value of communion with Christ over worldly glory - Encouragement to prioritize spiritual over material wealth
Key Quotes
“The world is crucified to me, and I am crucified unto the world.” — Thomas Brooks
“Ah! were there more assurance among Christians, there would not be such tugging for the world.” — Thomas Brooks
“Cursed be he who prefers all the glory of the world to one day's communion with Christ!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Seek assurance in your relationship with God to strengthen your faith.
- Reflect on the examples of biblical figures to inspire detachment from worldly pursuits.
- Prioritize time spent in communion with Christ over the distractions of material wealth.