Classic Sermon Outlines (continued)
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — Matthew Henry
2. The will of God should be proved. It concerns the Christian to know the will of God; to know it with judgment and approbation; to know it experimentally; to know the excellency of the will of God by the experience of a conformity to it.
3. The transformed mind is the best able to prove the will of God. The promise is, "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine" (John 7:17). An honest, humble heart that has spiritual senses exercised and is delivered into the mold of the Word, loves it and practices it.
CONCLUSION
Our duty to God, as Christians, is to yield to Him and transform our minds by His grace. Thus to be godly is to surrender ourselves to God. This is a prerequisite to fruitful service.
Mot jas eee
SERMON TWENTY-EIGHT
THE TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.
—II CORINTHIANS 4:7
THE heavens indeed declare the glory of God, but they do not show us how we may glorify God, much less how we may be glorified with Him.
Here, therefore, where natural reason and natural religion leave us at a loss, the Gospel of Christ takes us up and shows us the glory of God shining in the face of Christ, where it shines clearer and stronger and brighter and with more satisfaction than it does in the face of the whole creation; for it declares Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
CHRIST IS THE TREASURE.
A. The Gospel Is a Treasure because it Consists of an Abundance of That Which Is of Inestimable Value.
There are treasures of wisdom and knowledge in the truths which the Gospel reveals to us, about which the understanding finds the best employment. There are treasures of comfort and joy in the offers which the Gospel makes to us and the blessings it assures to all believers, in which not only the necessities of the soul are well provided for, but its desires abundantly satisfied and its true and lasting happiness inviolably secured. There is a treasure of grace and strength in the Spirit and His operations in us.
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — Matthew Henry
B. The Gospel Is a Treasure because There Is No End to It.
It is deposited in good hands whence we may draw from it, but cannot be deprived of it. It is deposited in the wisdom and counsel of God, in Christ, in the Scriptures. It is a treasure that will not only suit the present exigences of the soul, but will last as long as it lasts. It is the word of the Lord | which endures forever, when all the glory of man is withered as the grass. It is a treasure which glorified saints will be living plentifully and pleasantly upon to eternity.
C. The Gospel Is a Treasure because It Is of Universal Use.
It is not only valuable in itself, but every way suitable and serviceable. to us. It is a treasure of food for all those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. It is a treasure of arms and ammunition for our spiritual warfare. It furnishes us with the answers to every temptation and with the ~ whole armor of God. It is a treasure in the heart of every true believer. If the Gospel of Christ has the innermost and uppermost place in our lives we are rich toward God.
II. CHRISTIANS ARE THE EARTHEN VESSELS.
A. They Are Only Vessels.
They can give only what they have received. God is the fountain of commandment which is the lamp and the law is the light; the believers are but as candlesticks in which this light is set up and by which it is held forth. A man can receive nothing which he can depend upon himself or 'recommend to others with any assurance, unless it be given him from above.
B. They Are Earthen Vessels.
Believers are compared to earthen vessels because: (1) They are made of the same mold as other people; (2) oftentimes in respect to their outward condition they are of small account, men of low degree; (3) they are subject to many infirmities; (4) not all of the same constitution—some are weak and others are strong; (5) they are what God, the Potter, makes them; (6) they are vessels of service; (7) oftentimes de-
The,Treasure in Earthen Vessels spised and trampled upon by men; (8) they are frail and mortal and dying and on that account earthen vessels.
III. GOD PLACES THE TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS TO MAGNIFY HIS POWER.
A. Divine Power Was Given to the Apostles to Strengthen Them for Their Work.
To preach down Judaism and paganism and preach up the kingdom _of the crucified Jesus was a service that required a far greater strength, both of judgment and resolution, than the apostles had of themselves. If they had not been full of power by the Spirit of the Lord they could never have spoken as they did with that wisdom which all their adversaries were not able to gainsay or resist. Also, they could never have made such vigorous attacks upon the devil's kingdom, nor have gathered such a harvest of souls to Jesus Christ.
B. Divine Power Was Given to the Apostles to Support Them in Their Hardships.
God chose the service of such men as were despised in order that He might magnify His own power in keeping the spirit which He had made from failing before Him. One would wonder how the apostles kept up their spirits. It was not by any power of their own, but underneath them were the everlasting arms and when they were pressed out of measure, above strength, so that they despaired of life, yet they did not faint because they were borne up by the power of God who raises the dead.
C. Divine Power Was Given to the Apostles to Give Them Success.
The world was to be enlightened with the lights and enriched with the treasure that was lodged in the earthen vessels. It is not what the apostles have wrought, but what God has wrought b them. The Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation. The wonderful achievements of the Gospel! The trophies of its victory over the powers of darkness! The numerous instances of its convincing and sanctifying power! Many sinful hearts have by it been made to tremble and many gracious souls to triumph.
Lid
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — Matthew Henry
CONCLUSION
Thank God for the Gospel treasure though it is in earthen vessels. Thank God that it is in such vessels that it may be the nearer to you and the more within your reach. Give all diligence to make sure your interest in this _ treasure. What will it avail us that we have the Gospel in our land if we have it not in our hearts? What will it avail us that we have the sound of it about — us and not the savor of it within us?
Matthew Henry
SERMON TWENTY-NINE
THE PROMISES OF GOD
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
—II CORINTHIANS 7:1
WE WILL consider the promises of God under four heads, namely, the Christian's possession of the promises, the content of the promises, the blessed fruits of the promises, and the Christian's obligation or duty because of the promises.
I. THE POSSESSION OF GOD'S PROMISES.
A. The Privilege of the Possession of the Promises.
It is the unspeakable privilege of all believers to have as a certain possession the precious promises of God.
B. The Explanation of the Possession of the Promises.
We have the promises as tokens of God's favor toward us; as fruits of Christ's purchase; as declarations of God's good will toward men; asa foundation of our faith and hope; as the directions and encouragements of our desires in prayer; as the means by which the grace of God works for our holiness and comfort, as the pledge and assurance of future blessedness.
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — Matthew Henry
II. THE CONTENT OF GOD'S PROMISES.
A. Promises of Spiritual Blessings.
God has promised that all of our sins shall be pardoned (Isaiah 43:25); that He will answer our prayers (John 14:13); that He will silence our fears (Isaiah 41:13); that He will proportion our trials to our strength (I Corinthians 10:13); that He will perfect the work of grace in us (Philippians
1:6); that He will never desert us (Hebrews 13:5); that He will give us victory over our spiritual enemies (Romans 16:20).
B. Promises of Physical Blessings.
He has also promised to protect us from all evil (Psalm 121:7, 8); to | feed us with food convenient for us (Psalm 37:3); to raise up our bodies to life again (John 6:40).
III. THE FRUITS OF GOD'S PROMISES.
A. Strength.
The promises furnish us with a strength sufficient against sin and for duty. _
B. Victory.
These promises speak the language of Caleb and Joshua who said, "We are well able to overcome the people," when they were about to enter into Canaan while the other spies discouraged the tribes of Israel. Thus we may say through the strength of divine grace we shall be enabled to overcome all _ of our spiritual enemies, namely, the world, the flesh, and the devil.
C. Faithfulness,
God is faithful to the promises which He has made to us. Therefore, we must not be false to those promises which we have made to Him.
D. Obedience.
In having these promises we have great honor put upon us and we ought to carry it as becomes us. God has promised to be to us a faithful God, a loving and tender Father. Let us not wander out of the way of duty.