C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the danger of pride in one's own grace, warning that those who boast of their faith or love may be at risk of falling. He reminds believers that true strength comes from Christ alone, and that continuous reliance on Him is essential to avoid spiritual decline. Spurgeon encourages a life of prayer, scripture reading, and careful living, urging Christians to exemplify Christ in their actions and conversations. He reassures that through faith and dependence on Jesus, believers can be kept from falling and ultimately receive the crown of righteousness. The sermon calls for vigilance and humility in the Christian walk.

Andrew Murray emphasizes the commandment of loving one another as Christ has loved us, highlighting the profound connection between Christ (the Vine) and believers (the branches). He explains that true obedience and love can only be achieved through reliance on Christ's power, rather than our own strength. Murray encourages believers to recognize their need for transformation and to embrace the fullness of life that Christ offers. He stresses that understanding the spiritual mystery of the Vine is essential for living out this commandment effectively. Ultimately, he calls for a surrender to Christ's transformative power, assuring that through Him, we can love as He loves.

Charles Finney emphasizes the critical nature of dependence on Christ, asserting that without Him, we can do nothing of spiritual value. He explains that this dependence is not merely theoretical but must be a practical reality in the life of a believer, as it is essential for holiness and moral action. Finney warns against the human tendency to overlook this truth, which can lead to pride, self-righteousness, and spiritual failure. He encourages believers to actively acknowledge their reliance on Christ for strength and guidance, highlighting that true faith involves a continual remembrance of this dependence. Ultimately, understanding and embracing this doctrine is vital for a fruitful Christian life.

David Wilkerson emphasizes the necessity of cutting off anything that leads us away from reliance on Christ, as illustrated by Jesus' teaching in Matthew 18:8. He explains that the hand, foot, and eye symbolize our self-reliance and confidence in our own works, which must be surgically removed from our lives. Wilkerson urges believers to renounce their dependence on personal merit and instead embrace the victory of the cross, humbling themselves and committing to total devotion to Christ. The message highlights that true holiness is achieved not through our efforts but through the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Ultimately, we are called to run into the arms of Jesus, recognizing that we belong to Him.

D.L. Moody illustrates the comforting nature of Christ as a burden-bearer through a touching story of a father and his son. The son, eager to help, struggles with a heavy book and ultimately breaks down in tears when he cannot manage it alone. The father, seeing his son's distress, lovingly carries both him and the book upstairs, symbolizing how Christ carries our burdens when we are overwhelmed. This sermon emphasizes the importance of relying on Jesus to help us with our struggles and burdens in life.

Major Ian Thomas emphasizes the concept of redemption through the metaphor of a lamp, illustrating that while we are created with a body and soul, we cannot produce righteousness on our own. He explains that true functionality comes from receiving the life of Christ within us, which enables us to shine with His light. Thomas highlights the importance of both the death and life of Christ, stating that while His death reconciles us, it is His life that saves us and empowers us to live righteously. He warns against the danger of being a 'carnal Christian,' relying on our own efforts rather than allowing Christ to live through us. Ultimately, the sermon underscores the necessity of repentance and dependence on Christ for true sanctification and functionality in our Christian walk.

Major Ian Thomas emphasizes that living the Christian life is impossible without reliance on Christ. He explains that our attempts to live righteously through self-effort lead to frustration and failure, as true growth comes only through grace and faith. God desires us to recognize our struggles and surrender our self-sufficiency, allowing Christ to work through us for victory over sin. The essence of the Christian life is not about our abilities but about Christ living in and through us. Ultimately, the Christian life can only be understood in the context of Jesus Christ's power and presence.

A.B. Simpson emphasizes the importance of relying on Christ as a living Person rather than merely on the experience of holiness. He warns that many believers become disillusioned when they face trials and temptations after initially feeling delivered from sin, leading them to doubt their experiences. This cycle of failure can cause them to abandon their pursuit of holiness, ultimately resulting in a worse state than before. Simpson calls for a deeper understanding of sanctification that centers on a relationship with Jesus, asking for His heart, faith, and life. The message encourages believers to seek Christ continually rather than relying solely on past experiences.

John Nelson Darby emphasizes the multifaceted nature of Jesus Christ, portraying Him as the Son of God, the Son of Man, and our High Priest. He highlights that true knowledge of God and humanity is found in Christ, who embodies grace and truth. Darby explains that Christ's dependence and obedience to the Father serve as a model for believers, encouraging them to follow His path of life through faith and reliance on Him. He also stresses the importance of recognizing Christ as the source of spiritual nourishment, urging believers to feed on His sacrifice and love. Ultimately, Darby calls for a deep affection for Christ, who leads us to fullness of joy in the presence of God.

Major Ian Thomas emphasizes the necessity of dependence on Christ for living out the 'good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.' He explains that just as Jesus relied on the Father, believers must rely on the Son to fulfill their divine vocation, which is to be His workmanship created for good works. Thomas warns against the futility of doing things in our own strength, asserting that without Christ, our efforts amount to nothing. He encourages believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices, allowing Christ to express His life through them. Ultimately, he calls for a life that is fully surrendered to Christ, where the world sees God through our actions.

A.B. Simpson emphasizes that the essence of spiritual life lies in Christ both for us and in us. He explains that our salvation and justification come from Christ, while our sanctification is sustained by Him living within us. This understanding leads to a life where we rely not on our own strength but on Christ, who is our life, hidden with God. Simpson encourages believers to walk in Christ with the same dependence they had when they first received Him, highlighting the importance of trusting Him for every moment of their lives.

A.B. Simpson emphasizes that the Christian journey begins and progresses through faith, urging believers not to rely on their own strength but to trust in Christ for every step. He highlights the necessity of claiming grace, courage, love, and faith through faith in Jesus, who empowers us to live victoriously. Simpson reminds us that our lives should reflect Christ living in us, leading to a continuous song of reliance on Him. The essence of the Christian life is a daily walk with Jesus, fully dependent on His grace and presence.

Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the profound meaning of being 'poor in spirit' as a state of utter dependence on Christ, akin to a beggar who recognizes his complete lack of resources. He explains that true mourning arises from this awareness of spiritual poverty, leading to a cultivation of meekness, which is a learned response to God's authority. Beach draws parallels between the believer's journey and Adam's choice at the tree of knowledge, highlighting the importance of choosing Christ over self-reliance. He asserts that through union with Christ, believers can experience victory over sin and grow in maturity by learning to say no to their old nature and yes to the new life in Christ. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deep reliance on God's grace to transform our hearts and minds, fostering a desire for righteousness and a rejection of sin.

George Warnock emphasizes the importance of recognizing the true source of sustenance for the needs of people, as illustrated in the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. He critiques the tendency to rely on human efforts and resources, like fundraising, to address spiritual and physical hunger, instead highlighting that Jesus' question to Philip was meant to test faith rather than prompt a practical solution. Warnock points out that while some may suggest limited resources, like the boy with five loaves and two fish, the true answer lies in bringing what little we have to Jesus, who can multiply it to meet the needs of many. The sermon calls for a deeper faith in God's provision rather than solely relying on our own understanding and efforts.

Watchman Nee explores the significance of Romans 7, emphasizing that while Romans 6 teaches freedom from sin, Romans 7 reveals the necessity of being liberated from the Law. He explains that many Christians struggle with sin because they attempt to fulfill God's demands through their own efforts, leading to frustration and failure. The chapter illustrates that true deliverance comes not from trying harder but from recognizing our utter weakness and relying on Christ's power. Ultimately, Nee highlights that through Christ's death and resurrection, believers are freed from the Law's demands and empowered to live a fruitful life in God.

F.B. Meyer emphasizes the importance of living a life in complete dependence on Jesus, mirroring the relationship Jesus had with the Father. He illustrates this through the example of an eastern prince who found life’s secret in simplicity and meditation, urging believers to enter into Christ's inner chamber. Meyer explains that Jesus chose a life of dependence rather than independence, demonstrating that true life comes from relying on God. He encourages the congregation to make Jesus the center of their lives, to seek His glory, and to live in accordance with God's will, ultimately leading to a richer, more fulfilling existence. The sermon concludes with a call to be filled with the Holy Spirit to empower this dependent life.