John 6:24-25 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum… I. THE CHARACTER OF THE STATE DESCRIBED. 1. It has a large amount of hopefulness in it. (1) Indifference is gone. (2) Some kind of faith is implied. (3) The face is turned in the right direction. 2. There is much that is doubtful, The seeker disobeys the great command of the gospel, which is to believe, for Christ is not far from any one of us. II. THE PERPLEXITIES OF THIS STATE. First seekers are very often perplexed. 1. As the result of their ignorance of the way of salvation, which is to take God at His word, and to believe that Jesus is what He is — the Atonement for sin. 2. To increase their perplexity, they are often distracted with fear. Persons in a panic act generally in the worst manner for their own safety. So the sinner, conscious of guilt and God's anger, scarce knows where to flee. 3. The mind is usually harassed with a thousand questions — about doctrine, about Satan's suggestions. 4. It is also much grieved to find that it cannot even now cease from sin, as though this could be before pardon. III. THE DANGERS OF THIS STATE. 1. Present peace and comfort is lost. 2. There is the peril of despair. 3. Seeking may die out in indifference. 4. Something short of Christ may be taken up. IV. DIRECTIONS FOR SEEKERS. 1. Give attention to the object of faith. Christ as presented in the gospel. 2. Clear away everything that would hinder your believing. (1) Cherished sin. (2) Evil company. 3. Remember that, till you have believed, your danger is of the most imminent kind. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. |
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