The Living Truth
To be Christ-centered, we must prioritize our relationship with Christ and allow truth to shape our lives and actions.
Miles J. Stanford preaches about the pursuit of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, emphasizing the importance of being truth-centered in order to be Christ-centered. He highlights that true strength is measured by how we maintain our beliefs despite obstacles, rather than just enjoying the truth. Stanford stresses that deepening knowledge of the Lord Jesus is essential for true understanding and growth, as mere doctrine without connection to Him leads to weakness. Ultimately, he urges believers to have a heart filled with the Lord Jesus Himself, not just knowledge about Him, in order to grow and be separated unto Him.
Text
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).
We must be truth-centered if we are to be Christ-centered.
"With an increase of knowledge and apprehension of the truth, there is a constant sense that we are not practically up to what we have received; and hence the measure of our strength is not the enjoyment of a truth, but the extent to which we maintain what we believe in spite of every obstacle. It is the way in which we surmount the difficulties in our path, and not the enjoyment of the truth, which defines our position." -J.B.S.
"We will not learn truth aright excepting in the deepening knowledge of the Lord Jesus. It is the lack of this which is the cause of weakness among us: bare doctrine is not connected with Him. When the flower is separated from that which is its source, its sustenance and support, it is henceforth doomed to decay. We have that which is lovely and full of blessing in the Lord Jesus; but if we are to know it as such, to prove its truth, to enjoy it practically, it must be in taking these things as connected with Him." -W.K.
"The Lord Jesus Himself, and not even truth about Him, must be filling our hearts if we are to grow. This is no unnecessary admonition in a day when knowledge of the most sacred truths may be intellectually attained by so small an effort. It is a happy and necessary thing to understand the Word of God, but, with that Word treasured, the aim of the believer's affections should be, 'That I may know Him.' Desires after the Lord Jesus, desires to live with Him in heaven now, and to manifest Him on earth, make the growing believer separate from the world, and separate him unto the glorified Lord." -H.F.W.
"That I may know Him" (Phil 3:10).
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Being Truth-Centered
- Maintaining Truth in the Face of Obstacles
- The Source of Truth
- Growing in Knowledge of Christ
- Desires After the Lord Jesus
- Separation from the World
Key Quotes
“With an increase of knowledge and apprehension of the truth, there is a constant sense that we are not practically up to what we have received; and hence the measure of our strength is not the enjoyment of a truth, but the extent to which we maintain what we believe in spite of every obstacle.” — Miles J. Stanford
“The Lord Jesus Himself, and not even truth about Him, must be filling our hearts if we are to grow.” — Miles J. Stanford
“That I may know Him” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- We must prioritize our relationship with Christ and allow truth to shape our lives and actions.
- We can maintain truth by focusing on our relationship with Christ and relying on Him to give us the strength to overcome difficulties.
- We can grow in knowledge of Christ by desiring to know Him and by seeking to live with Him in heaven now and to manifest Him on earth.