Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

UNDER THE DIVINE INFLUENCE

1. Moses: "The skin of his face shone while he talked with Him."
2. Our Lord: "His face did shine as the sun." - Matt. 17:1-5
3. Stephen: "They saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." - Acts 6:15

1. We are transformed or changed into the likeness of our Maker and Redeemer:
   1. That is the great objective of redemption - Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 15:49
   2. We are to be partakers of the divine nature - 2 Pet. 1:2-4
   3. By beholding the spotless life of the Son of God we became changed - 2 Cor. 3:17, 18
2. The divine glory so visible in the face of Moses was the unconscious reflection of the power of God:
   1. Moses wished that his face did not shine to a point when his fellow men could not look at him - Ex. 34:30
   2. Moses was too occupied by the cares of leading God's people safely through the wilderness - Ex. 33:12-16
   3. His mind was filled with the law that God had written - Jas. 1:23-25; Ps. 119:18
3. Our blessed Lord had a similar experience while engaged in prayer:
   1. "And as he prayed the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistening" - Luke 9:29
   2. "His face did shine as the sun and his raiment was as the light" - Matt. 17:2
   3. That is the way John saw the Lord waiting among the seven golden candlesticks - Rev. 1:12-14

1. Our text makes it obvious that close fellowship with God in prayer connects us with the power of God:
   1. More and greater things are wrought through prayer than by any other means -
      1. The Red Sea was parted so that Israel walked on dry ground - Ex. 14:16
      2. The dead were brought back to life - Acts 9:40
      3. The eyes of a young and perplexed man were opened - 2 Ki. 6:17
2. It shows us what blessings we miss when we fail to commune with God: Jas. 4:1-3
3. Channels of communication:
   1. Secret prayer. Secret prayer is highly recommended by our Lord - Matt. 6:6. It is here where we are freest to open our hearts to one who understands us and who will keep things in confidence.
   2. The family altar. The family altar is the God chosen channel to bless the family.
      1. We think of Noah's family altar - Gen. 8:20
      2. Of Job's intercession for his family - Job 1:1-6
      3. Joshua, too, kept the family altar alive - Josh. 24:15
   3. Community prayer. Our Saviour placed great emphasis upon community prayer - Matt. 18:20
      1. Community prayers were very effective in times of crisis for the cause of God.
      2. The time of Queen Esther - Esth. 4:16
      3. When the apostles were put in prison to be killed - Acts 4:24-31
   4. Dear friends, are you using the heaven provided channels for keeping close communion with God, the source of light -- light and power?