Perfection of Suffering
The sermon emphasizes the importance of embracing suffering as a means for spiritual growth and transformation, leading to a deeper dependence on God and a greater love and service for Him.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about the Divine mystery and supernatural power in suffering, emphasizing that great saintliness of soul is often birthed through great suffering. He describes the perfection of suffering as a state where the Holy Spirit works marvelously in our souls, leading to a complete surrender to God's will and a deep trust in His sovereignty. Cowman highlights the blessedness of being absolutely conquered by God, where every aspect of our being is subdued and aligned with His purpose, resulting in a profound peace and assurance that God is working all things together for our good.
Text
"The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me" (Ps. 138:8).
There is a Divine mystery in suffering, a strange and supernatural power in it, which has never been fathomed by the human reason. There never has been known great saintliness of soul which did not pass through great suffering. When the suffering soul reaches a calm sweet carelessness, when it can inwardly smile at its own suffering, and does not even ask God to deliver it from suffering, then it has wrought its blessed ministry; then patience has its perfect work; then the crucifixion begins to weave itself into a crown.
It is in this state of the perfection of suffering that the Holy Spirit works many marvelous things in our souls. In such a condition, our whole being lies perfectly still under the hand of God; every faculty of the mind and will and heart are at last subdued; a quietness of eternity settles down into the whole being; the tongue grows still, and has but few words to say; it stops asking God questions; it stops crying, "Why hast thou forsaken me ?"
The imagination stops building air castles, or running off on foolish lines; the reason is tame and gentle; the choices are annihilated; it has no choice in anything but the purpose of God. The affections are weaned from all creatures and all things; it is so dead that nothing can hurt it, nothing can offend it, nothing can hinder it, nothing can get in its way; for, let the circumstances be what they may, it seeks only for God and His will, and it feels assured that God is making everything in the universe, good or bad, past or present, work together for its good.
Oh, the blessedness of being absolutely conquered! of losing our own strength, and wisdom, and plans, and desires, and being where every atom of our nature is like placid Galilee under the omnipotent feet of our Jesus. --Soul Food
The great thing is to suffer without being discouraged. --Fenelon
"The heart that serves, and loves, and clings,
Hears everywhere the rush of angel wings."
Sermon Outline
- I. The Divine Mystery of Suffering
- A. Suffering is a supernatural power that has not been fully understood by human reason
- B. Great saintliness of soul often comes through great suffering
- II. The Perfection of Suffering
- A. When suffering leads to a calm and sweet carelessness, patience has its perfect work
- B. In this state, the Holy Spirit works many marvelous things in our souls
- III. The Characteristics of the Perfectly Suffering Soul
- A. A quietness of eternity settles down into the whole being
- B. The tongue grows still, and has few words to say
- C. The affections are weaned from all creatures and all things
Key Quotes
“Oh, the blessedness of being absolutely conquered!” — Charles E. Cowman
“The great thing is to suffer without being discouraged.” — Charles E. Cowman
“The heart that serves, and loves, and clings, / Hears everywhere the rush of angel wings.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We should strive to suffer without being discouraged, trusting that God is making everything work together for our good.
- Suffering can lead to great saintliness of soul, resulting in a deeper dependence on God and a greater love and service for Him.
- The perfectly suffering soul is characterized by a quietness of eternity, a still tongue, and affections weaned from all creatures and all things.