Keep Trusting
The sermon emphasizes the importance of maintaining ongoing trust in God, even in the face of adversity, and warns against the dangers of lost faith.
Charles E. Cowman emphasizes the importance of maintaining unwavering faith in God, using the disciples' lack of continued trust on the road to Emmaus as a cautionary tale. He warns against allowing circumstances to shake our faith, urging believers to always declare, 'I am trusting,' instead of looking back and saying, 'We trusted.' Cowman highlights the need to trust God in all seasons, whether in the warmth of summer or the storms of winter, emphasizing that true faith remains steadfast regardless of external conditions.
Text
"We trusted" (Luke 24:21).
I have always felt so sorry that in that walk to Emmaus the disciples had not said to Jesus, "We still trust"; instead of "We trusted." That is so sad--something that is all over.
If they had only said, "Everything is against our hope; it looks as if our trust was vain, but we do not give up; we believe we shall see Him again." But no, they walked by His side declaring their lost faith, and He had to say to them "O fools, and slow of heart to believe!"
Are we not in the same danger of having these words said to us? We can afford to lose anything and everything if we do not lose our faith in the God of truth and love.
Let us never put our faith, as these disciples did, in a past tense--"We trusted." But let us ever say, "I am trusting." --Crumbs
The soft, sweet summer was warm and glowing,
Bright were the blossoms on every bough:
I trusted Him when the roses were blooming;
I trust Him now...
Small were my faith should it weakly falter
Now that the roses have ceased to blow;
Frail were the trust that now should alter,
Doubting His love when storm clouds grow.
--The Song of a Bird in a Winter Storm
Sermon Outline
- The Danger of Lost Faith
- The Importance of Ongoing Trust
- A Call to Ongoing Trust
- The Example of the Song of a Bird
- The Necessity of Unwavering Faith
Key Quotes
“We can afford to lose anything and everything if we do not lose our faith in the God of truth and love.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Let us never put our faith, as these disciples did, in a past tense--'We trusted.' But let us ever say, 'I am trusting.'” — Charles E. Cowman
“Frail were the trust that now should alter, / Doubting His love when storm clouds grow.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We must choose to have faith in God, even when circumstances seem hopeless.
- Losing our trust in God can lead to spiritual stagnation and doubt.
- Regaining our trust in God requires acknowledging our doubts, seeking forgiveness, and choosing to trust Him again.