The Sweet Clusters of Canaan's Grapes
The sermon encourages believers to rejoice in hope of future glory, endure troubles for the glory of God, and seek wisdom to improve afflictions for His glory.
Anne Dutton preaches about the hope and joy that believers have in the promise of eternal glory with Christ in heaven, where all tears, pain, and sorrow will be wiped away, and we will feast upon the Tree of Life. She emphasizes the importance of enduring present troubles and afflictions with patience, knowing that they are preparing us for our eternal rest and advancing our crown in heaven. Dutton encourages believers to rejoice in the hope of future glory, to glorify God in both doing and suffering His will, and to eagerly await the day of God when we will enter into the joy of our Lord for eternity.
Text
My very Dear Sister in Christ,
The sweet clusters of Canaan's grapes brought to us in this wilderness, whet our appetite after the heavenly country, that exceeding good land where we, at home with Christ, shall feast upon Him, the Tree of Life, in the variety and perpetuity of His ever-new and abundant fruits, unto growing joys and endless days. Then, oh, then, "God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain (inward or outward); for the former things shall be passed away." No wonder that such a soul desires to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better!
Let us, then, as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, rejoice now in hope of approaching glory which awaits us. Our Lord's joy will not be full, until He sees all His children brought in, converted by grace and raised unto glory. When He thus sees us, the whole election of grace and all our ineffable bliss, as the fruit of the travail of His soul, He shall be satisfied, His heart contented, and delighted forever!
Such is the boundless grace of our altogether lovely and infinitely loving Lord! And as for us, the beloved of the Lord, appointed to salvation by Jesus Christ, when we are presented faultless before the presence of His glory, it will be with exceeding joy--a joy far exceeding all our present conception and expression. So great is the hope laid up for us in heaven! And how great, then, should be our present joy in hope of future glory!
But let us wait with patience our appointed time here on earth. Shall not we, so highly favored to know that for us there remains an eternal rest, be free to endure all the troubles appointed for us in this present time, since the glory of God and our good are jointly concerned under these light and momentary afflictions? Not a trouble passes over us but we are called thereby to glorify God, in doing and suffering His will.
Shall we desire to shun any cross which is to prepare us for and to advance our crown? No! rather let us ask wisdom of God wisely to improve our every day's affliction, for His glory. Thus, rejoicing in, waiting for, and hastening unto, the coming of the day of God, let us spend the little time that remains unto us, and soon our race will be run, the prize won, and we shall enter into the joy of our Lord, to live with Him, and reign in life by Him, to a never-ending eternity!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Heavenly Country
- A. A land of eternal joy and feasting on Christ
- B. A place of no more death, sorrow, or pain
- II. The Desire to Depart
- A. A soul's longing to be with Christ
- B. The joy of being with Christ, which is far better
- III. The Lord's Joy
- A. Seeing all children brought in and converted
- B. The satisfaction of His heart and delight
- IV. The Boundless Grace of the Lord
- A. The love and satisfaction of the Lord
- B. The joy of being presented faultless before His glory
- V. Waiting with Patience
- A. Enduring troubles for the glory of God
- B. Improving afflictions for the Lord's glory
Key Quotes
“God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain (inward or outward); for the former things shall be passed away.” — Anne Dutton
“Our Lord's joy will not be full, until He sees all His children brought in, converted by grace and raised unto glory.” — Anne Dutton
“When He thus sees us, the whole election of grace and all our ineffable bliss, as the fruit of the travail of His soul, He shall be satisfied, His heart contented, and delighted forever!” — Anne Dutton
Application Points
- We should rejoice in hope of future glory and let it guide our present joy.
- We should endure troubles and afflictions for the glory of God and seek wisdom to improve them.
- We should glorify God in all things, whether in doing or suffering His will.