My Father's Choice
Miles J. Stanford's sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting God's purpose in trials and the transformative power of suffering in our spiritual journey.
Miles J. Stanford preaches about the purpose of God's processing and trials in our lives, emphasizing that even when we do not understand His ways, we should trust that He knows what is best for us. He highlights the importance of consenting to God's leading through difficult processes, as He carefully matches our suffering to our specific needs for spiritual growth and holiness. Stanford encourages surrendering to God's will in the midst of suffering, believing that every trial is meant to conform us to the image of Christ and lead us to a deeper relationship with Him.
Text
"What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter" (John 13:7).
When our Lord takes us down into an area of processing and trial it seems as though He deliberately takes away our understanding, and we often react as though we had never gone through anything before. One of His reasons for this is that we may receive the full effect and benefit of the child-training.
"We should give our consent to our Father when He seeks to lead us through devastating processes. And we need have no fear, for He knows how to apportion our suffering. He exactly matches the suffering to our condition. He measures all things with unfailing accuracy and selects the particular trial suited to our particular need.
"He invariably chooses the lot of each with this in view-an increase of the divine content in our lives. If He chastens us, it is always 'for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.' And 'all things work together for good to them that are called according to his purpose.' What good? What purpose? This, 'that we may be conformed to the image of his Son.'"
"Let suffering come from any cause in the universe, if we give it over entirely into the hand of our Father, and sink ourselves into His blessed will, with the desire for Him to work His purpose in us, He will make every pain, every tear, every particle of our suffering work in us a death to sin and to the old man, and to all things on earth which will be for our highest development and for His glory." -G.W.
"If we lay claim to the blessing of our Father, we must not fear what may lie in the path of blessing. It is ever through suffering to glory, through the Cross to the Crown." -O.S.
"In every circumstance of life be thankful; for this is God's will in Christ Jesus respecting you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Wey.).
Sermon Outline
-
I
- Understanding God's purpose in trials
- The importance of consent to God's will
- God's precise measurement of suffering
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II
- The divine content in our lives
- Chastening for our profit
- Conformity to the image of Christ
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III
- Suffering as a path to glory
- The role of gratitude in trials
- Trusting God's plan in every circumstance
Key Quotes
“What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” — Miles J. Stanford
“He invariably chooses the lot of each with this in view-an increase of the divine content in our lives.” — Miles J. Stanford
“If we lay claim to the blessing of our Father, we must not fear what may lie in the path of blessing.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- Embrace trials as opportunities for growth and transformation.
- Practice gratitude in all circumstances to align with God's will.
- Trust that God measures our suffering to suit our specific needs for spiritual development.