Bitter and Sweet
The sermon 'Bitter and Sweet' explores the nature of the Christian life, highlighting the struggles and victories that come with following Christ.
John Newton preaches about the struggle of maintaining a sincere and devoted heart for God amidst life's challenges and distractions. He reflects on the alternating experiences of light and darkness, peace and strife, in the Christian journey, emphasizing the need for consistent faith and reliance on God's grace. Newton acknowledges the internal battles faced at the mercy seat, where doubts and distractions can hinder prayer, but finds solace in the transformative power of Christ's presence, bringing an end to troubles and ushering in moments of joy and assurance of future blessings.
Text
1 Kindle, Saviour, in my heart,
A flame of love divine;
Hear, for mine I trust thou art,
And sure I would be thine;
If my soul has felt thy grace,
If to me thy name is known;
Why should trifles fill the place
Due to thyself alone?
2 'Tis a strange mysterious life
I live from day to day;
Light and darkness, peace and strife,
Bear an alternate sway:
When I think the battle won,
I have to fight it o'er again;
When I say I'm overthrown,
Relief I soon obtain.
3 Often at the mercy-seat,
While calling on thy name,
Swarms of evil thoughts I meet,
Which fill my soul with shame.
Agitated in my mind,
Like a feather in the air,
Can I thus a blessing find?
My soul, can this be pray'r?
4 But when Christ, my Lord and Friend,
Is pleas'd to show his pow'r
All at once my troubles end,
And I've a golden hour;
Then I see his smiling face,
Feel the pledge of joys to come:
Often, Lord, repeat this grace
Till thou shalt call me home.
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of the Christian Life
- The Problem of Evil Thoughts
- The Power of Christ in Our Lives
- The power of Christ to overcome our troubles
- The experience of God's presence and joy
- The longing for this experience to continue
Key Quotes
“Why should trifles fill the place due to thyself alone?” — John Newton
“Often at the mercy-seat, while calling on thy name, swarms of evil thoughts I meet, which fill my soul with shame.” — John Newton
“But when Christ, my Lord and Friend, is pleas'd to show his pow'r all at once my troubles end, and I've a golden hour;” — John Newton
Application Points
- As Christians, we must acknowledge the presence of evil thoughts in our minds and seek to overcome them through prayer and the power of Christ.
- We can experience God's presence and joy in our lives by calling on His name and trusting in His power.
- We should repeat God's grace in our lives to remind ourselves of His presence and power, and to continue experiencing His joy.