(Audio Book) Be Still and Be Filled (Clip)
E. Stanley Jones teaches that true spiritual fullness comes from stillness and receptivity to God's limitless grace, rather than striving in our own strength.
This sermon emphasizes the concept of being chosen by God to bear fruit and the importance of remaining connected to Him through prayer. It highlights the power of receptivity and stilling the mind to allow God's unlimited resources to flow through us. By surrendering to God and allowing His grace to fill us, we can experience His abundant life and be full.
Full Transcript
Whenever I am about to speak, I ask the audience to bow their heads in silent prayer. In that silence, I always repeat my verse. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain.
That whatsoever ye ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. The stilling of the mind by the repetition of that verse makes it receptive. I am living in the passive voice.
Preaching, then, is not eager straining. It is receptivity ending in release. The speaker is no longer a reservoir with just so much to give.
He is a channel attached to unlimited resources. The stilling of the mind reminds you not of your pitiful little store, but of the fact that you are now harnessing yourself to God's illimitable fullness. Prayer is like the fastening of the cup to the wounded side of a pine tree to allow the resin to pour into it.
You are now nestling up into the side of God, the wounded side. If you will and you allow his grace to fill your cup, you are taking in the very life of God. Be still and know, and you will be full.
Be unstill and you will not know. You will remain empty.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Begin with silent prayer and repetition of scripture
- The importance of stillness in spiritual receptivity
- Living in the passive voice before God
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II
- Preaching as receptivity ending in release
- The speaker as a channel, not a reservoir
- Harnessing oneself to God's unlimited resources
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III
- The analogy of prayer to a cup attached to a wounded tree
- Receiving grace from the wounded side of Christ
- The necessity of being still to be filled with God's life
Key Quotes
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain.” — E. Stanley Jones
“Preaching, then, is not eager straining. It is receptivity ending in release.” — E. Stanley Jones
“Be still and know, and you will be full. Be unstill and you will not know. You will remain empty.” — E. Stanley Jones
Application Points
- Practice silent prayer and scripture repetition to cultivate stillness.
- Approach spiritual life as a channel for God's grace rather than relying on personal strength.
- Allow yourself to be filled by God's life through quiet receptivity and trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does E. Stanley Jones mean by 'living in the passive voice'?
He means adopting a posture of receptivity, allowing God's grace to work through us rather than relying on our own efforts.
Why is stillness important in prayer according to the sermon?
Stillness quiets the mind, making it receptive to God's presence and enabling us to be filled with His life.
How does the sermon describe the role of a preacher?
The preacher is described as a channel connected to unlimited divine resources, not merely a reservoir with limited supply.
What is the significance of the 'wounded side' in the sermon?
It symbolizes Christ's sacrifice and the source of grace that believers can draw from to be spiritually filled.
What practical advice does the sermon offer for spiritual fullness?
It encourages believers to be still and receptive to God's grace rather than striving in their own strength.