Stones God Is Shaping
God is shaping us into stones for the heavenly temple, and our role is to trust in His timing and submit to His work in our lives.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the process of being shaped by God into stones for His heavenly temple, emphasizing the need to be still in God's hands and allowing Him to work on us. She highlights the importance of patience and trust in God's timing, as each individual has a specific place in His grand design. The sermon encourages believers to embrace the shaping process, allowing God to chip away at pride, self-love, and worldly desires to become pillars in His kingdom.
Text
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
EPHESIANS 2:20-22
WHEN God afflicts thee, think He hews a rugged stone,
Which must be shaped, or else aside as useless thrown.
RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH
WHAT comforts me is the thought that we are being shaped here below into stones for the heavenly temple,--that to be made like Him is the object of our earthly existence. He is the shaper and carpenter of the heavenly temple. He must work us into shape, our part is to be still in His hands; every vexation is a little chip; also we must not be in a hurry to go out of the quarry, for there is a certain place for each stone, and we must wait till the building is ready for that stone; it would put out the building if we were taken pell-mell.
CHARLES GEORGE GORDON
Oh, thrice fools are we, who like new-born princes weeping in the cradle, know not that there is a kingdom before them; then, let our Lord's sweet hand square us, and hammer us, and strike off the knots of pride, self-love, and world-worship, and infidelity, that He may make us stones and pillars in His Father's house.
SAMUEL RUTHERFORD
Sermon Outline
- God's Purpose for Us
- The Process of Shaping
- The Importance of Humility
- Letting go of pride and self-love
- Embracing our role in God's plan
Key Quotes
“WHAT comforts me is the thought that we are being shaped here below into stones for the heavenly temple,--that to be made like Him is the object of our earthly existence.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Oh, thrice fools are we, who like new-born princes weeping in the cradle, know not that there is a kingdom before them;” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Trust in God's timing and don't rush the shaping process.
- Let go of pride and self-love, and humbly submit to God's work in your life.
- Remember that being a stone in God's temple means serving a purpose that is bigger than your own desires.