Sermon Outline - Quietness and Assurance, Isaiah ch.32 v.17
| Date | 27/06/2004 |
|---|---|
| Time | 17:30 |
| Preacher | Rev. Maurice Roberts, Inverness |
| Sermon Title | Quietness and Assurance |
| Text | Isaiah ch.32 v.17 |
| Sermon ID | 874 |
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Introduction
- A lovely text.
- The quiet confidence here is what believers may enjoy.
- It comes when we believe God's love.
Illustration: a little child's confidence.
ASSURANCE IS A THING TO BE DESIRED
- What is Assurance? Certainty of salvation.
- Some do not believe in it - RCism does not:
- - "a vain and ungodly confidence" (Trent)
- - "a prime error of heretics" (Bellarmine)
- But the Bible teaches it:
Job - Psalm.23 - Isaiah 26:3 - Romans 8:38-39 - 2 Corinthians 5: 1 - 2 Timothy 1:12 - We are encouraged to seek it:
"Give diligence...sure" - "We know..." (says John).
ILLUSTRATION: an anchor, not a cotton thread.
ASSURANCE IS NOT THE SAME AS FAITH
- We are saved by faith in Christ - it is possible to have unassured faith and be saved.
ILLUSTRATION: "Lord, I believe...unbelief". - ILLUSTRATION:
- poor eyesight - cannot read letters.
- a message scratched / burnt on wood
- rich man's son - ignorant of wealth.
- Faith is life in the soul: assurance is more than life. It is health, vigour, strength, comfort, courage and boldness.
- Faith is food: assurance is cream.
- Faith will bring us to heaven after death; assurance brings heaven to us NOW.
APPLICATION: Look at Daniel - Stephen - Paul.
- We are saved by faith in Christ - it is possible to have unassured faith and be saved.
THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS FROM ASSURANCE
- Full contentment:
If we have God's love, what do other things matter? See Paul and Silas in prison. - Ability to face all trials and even death:
APPLICATION: How could we face death unless we knew that God is our Father in Christ? - It brings Christ's love into the soul:
ILLUSTRATION: Rutherford in Aberdeen = "Christ's banqueting -house" (Letters). - Courage to face men's cruelty:
ILLUSTRATION: Hugh MacKail on scaffold (Ryle Assurance, p.66)
- Full contentment:
HOW MAY ONE GO ABOUT GETTING ASSURANCE?
- Understand the doctrine of Justification.
See our TEXT here: "righteousness". - There is a distinct ministry of the Holy Spirit to give a felt assurance: "beareth witness".
- It is a taste of God's love here and now,
"Remember me, Lord, with that love..." See it here in Psalm 106. - Like all other blessings, it is to be sought by prayer to God.
- Understand the doctrine of Justification.
CONCLUSION
Illustration: The young woman who resented her mother's strictness - at first!
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