As Much as in Me Is, I Am Ready
We must show earnestness, a whole heart for Christ, and the passion of the cross in order to fulfill the Lord's expectation and meet the world's needs.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the necessity of earnestness and passion in our devotion to Christ, urging believers to fully commit their hearts and lives to the Master and humanity. He highlights the urgency of the times we live in, where everything around us is alive and earnest, and calls for a baptism of fire to ignite our spirits. Simpson encourages a self-surrendered life that seeks to grasp God's vision and strive towards the ultimate prize in Christ Jesus. He passionately prays for a world dedicated to Jesus, longing for His return and the establishment of His kingdom.
Text
Be earnest. Intense earnestness, a whole heart for Christ, the passion sign of the cross, the enthusiasm of our whole being for our Master and humanity-this is what the Lord expects. This is what His cross deserves, this what the world needs and this is what the age has a right to look for. Everything around us is intensely alive. Life is earnest, death is earnest, sin is earnest, man is earnest, business is earnest, knowledge is earnest. God forgive us if we are lax in the white heat of this crisis time. Oh, for the baptism of fire!
Oh, for the living coal upon the burning lips of love! 0h, for men and women God-possessed and self-surrendered, grasping God's great idea and pressing forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).
All the world for Jesus My prayer shall be, And my watchword ever, Himself for me. All the world for Jesus, Lord, quickly come, Bring Thy promised kingdom, And take us home.
Sermon Outline
- The Expectation of Earnestness
- A whole heart for Christ
- The passion of the cross
- The enthusiasm of our being for our Master and humanity
Key Quotes
“Oh, for the baptism of fire!” — A.B. Simpson
“Oh, for the living coal upon the burning lips of love!” — A.B. Simpson
“All the world for Jesus My prayer shall be, And my watchword ever, Himself for me.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We must be self-surrendered and willing to serve Christ and humanity with all our heart.
- We must grasp God's great idea and press forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
- We must pray for the baptism of fire and the living coal upon the burning lips of love to guide us in our service to Christ and humanity.