Staying by the Way
The sermon emphasizes the importance of prayer in growing in the knowledge of God's mind and conforming to His will, ultimately leading to spiritual growth and maturity.
Mary Wilder Tileston, through the words of Isaac Penington and Charles H. Brent, emphasizes the importance of daily surrendering to God, seeking His mercy, and allowing Him to guide and strengthen us through life's challenges. The goal is to continually draw closer to God's kingdom, where we will receive an inheritance of life, joy, righteousness, and peace, providing strength against sin and death. Prayer is highlighted as a powerful tool for aligning our will with God's, leading to a deeper understanding of His mind and a transformation into His likeness.
Text
That they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glori-fied.
ISAIAH 61:3 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2 PETER 1:11
HAST thou a sense of the way to the Father? Then be careful that thy spirit daily bow before Him, that He would continue His mercy to thee; making thy way more and more clear before thee every day--yea, and bearing thee up in all the exercises and trials which may befall thee, in every kind; that, by His secret working in thy spirit, and helping thee with a little help from time to time, thou mayest still be advancing nearer and nearer towards the kingdom; until thou find the Lord God administer an entrance unto thee thereinto, and give thee an inheritance of life, joy, righteousness, and peace therein; which is strength unto the soul against sin and death.
ISAAC PENINGTON
Probably the greatest result of the life of prayer is an unconscious but steady growth into the knowledge of the mind of God and into conformity with His will; for after all prayer is not so much the means whereby God's will is bent to man's desires, as it is that whereby man's will is bent to God's desires.
CHARLES H. BRENT
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of a Sense of Direction
- The Role of Prayer in Spiritual Growth
- The Purpose of Prayer
- Bending man's will to God's desires
- Not bending God's will to man's desires
Key Quotes
“Probably the greatest result of the life of prayer is an unconscious but steady growth into the knowledge of the mind of God and into conformity with His will;” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“HAST thou a sense of the way to the Father?” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Make daily time to bow before God and seek His guidance and mercy.
- Prayer is not just about getting what we want, but about growing in our knowledge of God's mind and conforming to His will.
- A life of prayer will lead to spiritual growth and maturity, giving us strength against sin and death.