The End of Our Strength
The sermon emphasizes the necessity of trusting God and His promises, even when we cannot see the results immediately.
Charles E. Cowman emphasizes the importance of faith in believing without seeing, drawing parallels to Peter walking on water and Abraham's trust in God's promises despite his own limitations. He highlights the need to trust in God alone, even when results are not immediately visible, and to stand firm on God's unchanging Word. The sermon encourages a deep, unwavering faith that goes beyond what is seen and comprehended.
Text
"Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:29).
How strong is the snare of the things that are seen, and how necessary for God to keep us in the things that axe unseen! If Peter is to walk on the water he must walk; if he is going to swim, he must swim, but he cannot do both. If the bird is going to fly it must keep away from fences and the trees, and trust to its buoyant wings. But if it tries to keep within easy reach of the ground, it will make poor work of flying.
God had to bring Abraham to the end of his own strength, and to let him see that in his own body he could do nothing. He had to consider his own body as good as dead, and then take God for the whole work; and when he looked away from himself, and trusted God alone, then he became fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able to perform. That is what God is teaching us, and He has to keep away encouraging results until we learn to trust without them, and then He loves to make His Word real in fact as well as faith.--A. B. Simpson
I do not ask that He must prove
His Word is true to me,
And that before I can believe
He first must let me see.
It is enough for me to know
'Tis true because He says 'tis so;
On His unchanging Word I'll stand
And trust till I can understand.
--E. M. Winter
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The importance of believing without seeing - The challenge of trusting in the unseen - Examples from scripture
- II points: - The story of Peter walking on water - The necessity of faith in action - The consequences of doubt
- III points: - Abraham's journey to faith - Recognizing human limitations - God's ability to fulfill His promises
- IV points: - The role of encouragement in faith - Learning to trust without visible results - The fulfillment of God's Word in our lives
Key Quotes
“Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” — Charles E. Cowman
“He had to consider his own body as good as dead, and then take God for the whole work.” — Charles E. Cowman
“On His unchanging Word I'll stand and trust till I can understand.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- Practice believing in God's promises without needing visible proof.
- Reflect on personal limitations and surrender them to God's strength.
- Seek to cultivate a faith that trusts in God's timing and methods.