Prisoners of Hope
The sermon emphasizes the importance of waiting upon God in purity to experience the immediate working Power of the Lord and the hope of release and free pardon through Christ's visit.
George Fox preaches about the immediate, working power of the Lord that renews and refreshes believers, urging them to wait upon God in purity despite their feelings of emptiness, nakedness, and unworthiness. He emphasizes the role of the Light in revealing our shortcomings and the love of God, encouraging believers to stand still and seek their Savior for freedom from evil. Fox also proclaims the arrival of Christ among the prisoners, offering hope of release, free pardon, and the opportunity to reign for those who wait for His manifestation.
Text
TO all of you, My dear Friends, who have tasted of the immediate, working Power of the Lord, . . . and do see, from whence doth Vertue come, and Strength that doth renew the Inward Man, and doth refresh you. . . . To you all I say, Wait upon God in that which is pure. Tho' you see little, and know little, and have little, and see your Emptiness, and see your Nakedness, and Barrenness, and Unfruitfulness, and see the Hardness of your Hearts, and your own Unworthiness; it is the Light that discovers all this, and the Love of God to you, and it is that which is Immediate, but the dark Understanding cannot comprehend it.
So, wait upon God in that which is pure, in your Measure, and stand still in it every one to see your Saviour, to make you free from that which the Light doth discover to you (to be Evil).
For the Voice of the Bridegroom is heard in our Land; and Christ is come amongst the Prisoners, to visit them in the Prison-Houses; they have all Hopes of releasment and free Pardon and to come out freely, for the Debt is paid; wait for the Manifestation of it, and he that comes out of Prison, shall reign. . . .
Sermon Outline
- The Source of Power and Strength
- Waiting Upon God in Purity
- The Voice of the Bridegroom and Christ's Visit
- The hope of release and free pardon
- The manifestation of God's power and forgiveness
Key Quotes
“For the Voice of the Bridegroom is heard in our Land; and Christ is come amongst the Prisoners, to visit them in the Prison-Houses;” — George Fox
“Wait upon God in that which is pure, in your Measure, and stand still in it every one to see your Saviour, to make you free from that which the Light doth discover to you (to be Evil).” — George Fox
“it is the Light that discovers all this, and the Love of God to you, and it is that which is Immediate, but the dark Understanding cannot comprehend it.” — George Fox
Application Points
- Wait upon God in purity to experience the immediate working Power of the Lord.
- Stand still in God's presence to see your Savior and experience freedom from the evil that the Light discovers.
- Trust in the manifestation of God's power and forgiveness, which comes through Christ's visit.