Audio Book: Our Father, Untrustworthy?
Miles J. Stanford teaches that trusting God the Father is foundational and assured through knowing Him by His Word, Spirit, and Son, leading believers into patient fellowship and divine guidance.
In this devotional sermon, Miles J. Stanford explores the profound trust believers can place in God the Father, emphasizing that such trust is rooted in knowing Him through His Word, Spirit, and Son. He highlights the Christian journey as one marked by patience and fellowship with God, encouraging believers to rely fully on God's wisdom and love. Stanford offers practical insights on how to acknowledge God in all aspects of life to experience His guidance and peace.
Full Transcript
The Lord redeemeth the soul of His servants, and none of them who trust in Him shall be desolate." Psalm 34 verse 22. We can only trust our Father to the degree that we know Him. And He only reveals Himself to us by His means.
That is by the Word, by the Spirit, and hence by the Son, in that sequence, could it be possible that God would so love an individual as to give His only Son to die for Him and still love Him to the extent of following Him with the pleadings and drawings of His grace until He has won that soul into His own family and created Him anew by the impartation of His own divine nature, and then be careless as to what becomes of the one He has thus given His all to procure. L.s.c. A life of patience intervenes between the day of illumination and the day of glorification. I am not to count on a path of pleasure, a path of ease, a path of prosperity, on being more distinguished tomorrow than today, but I am to count on a path of patience.
And is not there glory in that? Yes, there is companionship with the Lord Jesus Christ. J.g.b. Let my circumstances be what they may, if I can see them ordered for me unfailingly by one in whom infinite wisdom, power, and goodness combine, and whose love toward me I am assured of, my restlessness is gone, my will subjected to that other will in which I can but acquiesce and delight, F.w.g. We are called to fellowship with God, and fellowship means common happiness, common thoughts, common trust. The Father's delight is in His Son, and we have fellowship with Him in that.
The Son's delight is in the Father, and we have fellowship with Him in that. So our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus, Christ. J.n.d. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3 verses 5 and 6
Sermon Outline
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I. The Basis of Trust in God
- Trust depends on knowing God
- God reveals Himself through Word, Spirit, and Son
- God’s love demonstrated by giving His Son
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II. The Journey of Patience
- Life between illumination and glorification requires patience
- Christian path is not always easy or prosperous
- Patience is part of God’s refining process
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III. Fellowship with the Father and the Son
- Fellowship means shared happiness and trust
- The Father delights in the Son and we share in that delight
- Our rest and submission come from trusting God’s wisdom and love
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IV. Practical Trust and Guidance
- Trust God with all your heart
- Do not rely on your own understanding
- Acknowledge God in all ways for His direction
Key Quotes
“We can only trust our Father to the degree that we know Him.” — Miles J. Stanford
“A life of patience intervenes between the day of illumination and the day of glorification.” — Miles J. Stanford
“If I can see my circumstances ordered by one in whom infinite wisdom, power, and goodness combine, my restlessness is gone.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- Commit to deepening your knowledge of God through Scripture and prayer to build trust.
- Embrace patience as a vital part of your spiritual journey between salvation and glorification.
- Acknowledge God in every decision and circumstance to experience His guidance and peace.