Let the People Renew Their Strength
We need to renew our strength daily by waiting on the Lord and using the means of spiritual growth.
The preacher delves into the meaning of humility, emphasizing the importance of humbling oneself in the presence of the Lord. He explains that true humility involves recognizing our unworthiness and allowing God to work in us, bringing us to a lower position. The preacher highlights various biblical examples of humility, such as Isaiah, Job, and the apostle John, who were profoundly impacted by encountering God's glory. He stresses that humility is a response to understanding God's greatness and our own sinfulness, leading to a genuine realization of our need for God's grace and exaltation.
Text
All things on earth need to be renewed. No created thing continueth by itself. "Thou renewest the face of the year," was the Psalmist's utterance. Even the trees, which wear not themselves with care, nor shorten their lives with labour, must drink of the rain of heaven and suck from the hidden treasures of the soil. The cedars of Lebanon, which God has planted, only live because day by day they are full of sap fresh drawn from the earth.Neither can man's life be sustained without renewal from God.
As it is necessary to repair the waste of the body by the frequent meal, so we must repair the waste of the soul by feeding upon the Book of God, or by listening to the preached Word, or by the soul-fattening table of the ordinances.How depressed are our graces when means are neglected! What poor starvelings some saints are who live without the diligent use of the Word of God and secret prayer! If our piety can live without God it is not of divine creating; it is but a dream; for if God had begotten it, it would wait upon Him as the flowers wait upon the dew.
Without constant restoration we are not ready for the perpetual assaults of hell, or the stern afflictions of heaven, or even for the strifes within. When the whirlwind shall be loosed, woe to the tree that hath not sucked up fresh sap, and grasped the rock with many intertwisted roots.When tempests arise, woe to the mariners that have not strengthened their mast, nor cast their anchor, nor sought the haven. If we suffer the good to grow weaker, the evil will surely gather strength and struggle desperately for the mastery over us; and so, mayhap, a painful desolation, and a lamentable disgrace may follow. Let us draw near to the footstool of divine mercy in humble entreaty, and we shall realize the fulfillment of the promise, "They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength."
Sermon Outline
- The Need for Renewal
- The Source of Renewal
- The Means of Renewal
- The Consequences of Neglect
- The Importance of Continuous Renewal
- Ready for the assaults of hell and heaven
- Ready for the strifes within
- Using the ordinances
Key Quotes
“Thou renewest the face of the year,” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We must prioritize the means of spiritual growth, such as feeding on the Word of God and using the ordinances.
- Neglecting the means of renewal will lead to depressed graces and a weakened piety.
- We must be ready for the assaults of hell and heaven by continuously renewing our strength.