Who Hath Despised the Day of Small Things
The sermon emphasizes the importance of being united to Christ's person and risen body, and experiencing the fullness of His life and possession.
Greek Word Studies delves into the meaning of 'sbennumi,' which refers to quenching, putting out, or extinguishing, especially in the context of a fire or light. In Ephesians 6:16, Paul uses 'sbennumi' metaphorically to describe how the shield of faith can extinguish all the fiery attacks of the devil, preventing them from spreading. This concept is further explored in various Old Testament and New Testament passages, emphasizing the believer's ability to counteract and block the schemes of the enemy through faith and the power of God.
Text
The oak comes out of the acorn, the eagle out of that little egg in the nest, the harvest out of the seed. Thus the glory of the coming age is coming out of the Christ-life now, even as the majesty of His kingdom was all wrapped up that night in the baby in Bethlehem. Let us take Jesus for our total lives. Let us be united to His person and His risen body. Let us know what it is to say, The body is . . . for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body (1 Corinthians 6:13).
We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones (Ephesians 5:30).
He who gave that little infant, His only begotten Son, on that dark winter night to the arms of a cruel and ungrateful world will not refuse to give Him to us in all His fullness if we will but open our hearts and give Him right of way and full ownership and possession. Then we shall know in measure His quickening life, even as our hope shall reach its full fruition when we sit with Him on His throne with every fiber of our immortal beings even as He.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Glory of the Coming Age
- A. Wrapped up in the Christ-life now
- B. Manifested in the majesty of His kingdom
- II. The Importance of Union with Christ
- A. Being united to His person and His risen body
- B. Knowing the fullness of His life and possession
- III. The Promise of God's Provision
- A. Giving us His fullness if we open our hearts
- B. Granting us right of way and full ownership
Key Quotes
“The oak comes out of the acorn, the eagle out of that little egg in the nest, the harvest out of the seed.” — A.B. Simpson
“We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones (Ephesians 5:30).” — A.B. Simpson
“He who gave that little infant, His only begotten Son, on that dark winter night to the arms of a cruel and ungrateful world will not refuse to give Him to us in all His fullness if we will but open our hearts and give Him right of way and full ownership and possession.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We must surrender our lives to Christ, and allow Him to have control and possession of every aspect of our being.
- We must open our hearts to receive Christ's fullness, and experience the glory of the coming age.
- We must know what it means to say, 'The body is . . . for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body (1 Corinthians 6:13)'