Sermon Illustration

In Proverbs 27:17 we read: “As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” John Wesley was such a friend to William Wilberforce, who tried again and again—with seemingly no success—to abolish Britain’s slave trade. In 1791 Wilberforce received a letter from Wesley which included this exhortation: “Go on, in the power of His might, till even American slavery…shall vanish away before it.” Though Wesley died four days after writing that letter, it remained an inspiration to Wilberforce through years of disappointment after disappointment. Finally, after 20 years, he was able to get a bill passed which abolished the slave trade. Shortly after, slavery was completely outlawed throughout the British Empire. Wilberforce might not have prevailed if it had not been for the encouragement of his friend who strengthened him in the Lord. Before you pray, “Lord, give me a friend like that,” try praying: “Lord, make me a friend like that.”

God, the Father of men, is not satisfied if His children give Him simply gratitude for His mercies or the most loyal obedience to His will; He wants also, as the fulfillment of their love to Him, the enthusiastic use of their intellects, intent to know everything that it is possible for men to know about their Father and His ways. That is what is meant by loving God with the mind. And is there not something sublimely beautiful and touching in this demand of God that the noblest part of His children’s nature should come to Him? “Understand Me! Understand Me!” —Phillips Brooks

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”—(2 Cor. 6:14). Eliza Embert of Paris was the daughter of a wealthy citizen. She was betrothed to a young man who was both handsome and much thought of. The evening preceding the wedding they were at a party where gaiety and laughter abounded. The bridegroom was in fine spirits, and he entertained the young folks with sly remarks upon religion, or “old women’s faith,” as he called it. Finally the bride approached him quietly and asked him to stop such mockery as she could not endure it. He however would not hear her request and said, “My clever little bride is surely not involved in such silly things,” and then proceeded to jest all the more. A second time his bride approached him, and with tears in her eyes and a tremor in her voice, said firmly: “From this moment I am no more yours. Whoever does not hold God and His Word...

He offers us fellowship with Himself, but He looks for fellowship from us as well. He longed for the fellowship of His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion. “With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer.” He needed their fellowship to strengthen Him for His conflict and His cross. He asks for it today also. It is something constant and continuous that He needs. A sense of His presence at the Holy Communion is good, but it is not enough. A wave of emotion at some evening service and the opening of the heart to Christ is good, but it is not enough. An act of self-consecration at some service like the present is good, but it is not enough. Some characters are deeply touched at some mission service, but the impression soon passes away. Some welcome Christ as a visitor for the weekend; but when Monday comes, care or pleasure banishes Christ from heart and home. Something more is needed. Our heart must be one that He can make a home in. It must be a contrite he...