Author: Charles Spurgeon

Pray with Spurgeon: We need the Holy Spirit’s help

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Expecting to receive the precious help of your Holy Spirit, we would wait upon you, O Lord, with all earnestness of desire, with all sincerity of heart, and with all confidence of faith. Oh that now our fellowship may be with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ! May this be a season of access to God through Christ Jesus. May we not stand at a distance from you, but may we now speak to our God as a man speaks with his friend.

Our Father, we feel that we must praise and bless your name this morning. You have smitten us during this week; very many of our families have been made to mourn, but still, your strokes are fewer than our crimes, and lighter than our guilt.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22)

There are certain burdens of care and sorrow, of which the text speaks—especially the burdens that come from the slander, reproach, and oppression of ungodly people—which we need not carry. When we are severely tried and burdened, there is something we are tempted to do.

The text is an antidote to the malady that the psalm describes or implies. “Cast your burden on the Lord” is an injunction to do one thing in the place of something else that more naturally suggests itself to our poor foolish minds. When we are in severe trouble, we are tempted to complain. As the children of God, we ought to avoid even the semblance of a complaint against our heavenly Father.

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Solid Truths to Boost Your Faith in God

Today we prayed that God would increase our faith and remove our unbelief. Many people act as if the only way to remove doubt and increase faith is by simply ignoring the genuine questions that we have about Christ or the Bible.

But Christ invites us to a better way — to really seek after the truth, even when we have questions and doubts, because we know that his Word has solid, truthful answers for us. You have no question that God is not able to answer.

A great resource for finding answers to some of the questions that you have is Truth Matters: Confident Faith in a Confusing World by Andreas Köstenberger, Darrell Bock, and Josh Chatraw. This book answers some of the most pressing questions for the truthfulness of Christianity and the reliability of the Bible with faithful, thorough, and easy-to-understand answers.

If you read this book, I am confident that it will increase your faith and equip you to better defend Christianity to others.

Buy Truth Matters:

Pray with Spurgeon: God is still (very) good to us

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Gracious God, preserved by your goodness, we are permitted to come to you in prayer. We delight to find ourselves in the place where prayer is to be made, and we humbly hope that this day our supplications will be heard in heaven. Let our praise be accepted at the Throne, and that there will be for each of us a portion of meat in due season. Oh for the rainfall of the Holy Spirit upon every plant of the Lord’s right-hand planting. Let every soul be nourished today. As trees planted in the courts of the Lord, so may we flourish and bring forth fruit.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)

The man who delights in God’s Word, being taught by it, brings forth patience in the time of suffering, faith in the day of trial, and holy joy in the hour of prosperity. Fruitfulness is an essential quality of a gracious man, and that fruitfulness should be seasonable.

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Finding peace in the Prince of Peace

We live in a broken, sin-cursed, fallen world. We desperately need the Prince of Peace to come and redeem us, to make his blessing known as far as the curse is found.

In our salvation, this cosmic redemption is already breaking in. Christ is already at work in our hearts to free us from the curse of sin and death.

Life in this fallen world is full of many things to be afraid of, but recognizing the good presence of Christ with us gives us the power to choose faith over fear.

That’s the message of Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves by Trillia Newbell. In this book, Newbell addresses a variety of common fears, and shows how the truth of God’s Word and the power of the gospel can help us overcome those fears with faith.

This book will encourage you, boost your confidence in God, and help you walk with faith every day. I hope you’ll grab a copy today and read it this summer.

Buy Fear and Faith:

Pray with Spurgeon: God’s truth changes our lives

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Permit us, Lord, to behold again the light of your countenance. May our glad spirits approach again to the Throne of Grace, receiving grace from the Throne enabling us so to do. Oh that you would have a word with our heart! May the truth be mighty; may it pierce into the conscience, may it reach the inner man. May those who are born again, and those who are afar off, receive some good thing.

Vain is the help of man. We depend on nothing of our own, but behold, here we are at your feet. God Almighty, glorify your Son Jesus by your Holy Spirit. We ask it for his sake.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

In this wonderful prayer our Lord, as our great high priest, appears to enter into that perpetual office of intercession that he is now exercising at the right hand of the Father. What a friend we have in Jesus, so willing, so speedy to do for us all that we need. How invaluable must the blessing of sanctification be when our Lord, in the highest reach of his intercession, cries, “Sanctify them!” The prayer means, “Father, consecrate them to your own self. Let them be temples for your indwelling, instruments for your use.”

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Teach your kids to LOVE the Bible (not just read it)

Today we prayed that God’s Word would bear fruit in our lives — that it would work powerfully in our deepest hearts to change us into God’s image. the Bible is so amazing, and that’s why we need to teach it to our kids.

I’ve been really loving a new kids book, Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it by Hunter Beless. This book is a really fun, rhyming celebration of the Bible that will really encourage your kids (and you!) to treasure God’s Word. My kids have really enjoyed reading it, and since first reading it, the topics and phrases from the book have come up often in our conversations.

This book doesn’t just command us to read the Bible, it encourages us to LOVE the Bible.

Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it will help your kids approach the Bible with excitement and creativity, so I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it:

Pastor, give the church your everything

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

Our Lord’s anointing was with a special view to his preaching of the gospel. Such honor does the Lord of heaven and earth put on the ministry of the Word that, as one of the old Puritans said, “God had only one Son, and he made a preacher of him.” It should greatly encourage the weakest among us, who are preachers of the gospel also, to think that the Son of God, the blessed and eternal Word, came into this world so that he might preach the same good news that we are called to proclaim.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe the cost of following Christ.

Before we buckle on the Christian armor we ought to know what that service is which is expected of us. A recruiting sergeant often slips a shilling into the hand of some ignorant youth, and tells him that Her Majesty’s Service is a fine thing, that he has nothing to do but walk about in his flaming colors, that he will have no hard service—in fact, that he has nothing to do but to be a soldier, and go straight on to glory.

But the Christian sergeant, when he enlists a soldier of the cross, never deceives him like that. Jesus Christ himself said, “Count the cost.” He wished to have no disciple who was not prepared to go all the way—“to bear hardness as a good soldier.”

THANKS FOR READING

Brothers,

No matter what other people think of us or our office, we can be confident that our work has dignity. We are shepherds and preachers, just like Christ himself. Let us strive to be faithful.

If this newsletter is encouraging, please share it with another pastor. You can forward this email to a pastor you know.

If someone forwarded this email to you, sign up to get another one every week. Click here to subscribe.

Blessings to your ministry,

Doug H.
Creator of SpurgeonBooks

Pray with Spurgeon: Our joyful confidence in God

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We look up to you with joyful confidence, knowing that you are an inexhaustible fountain of every good thing, and believing that you will supply our need out of the riches of your fullness of glory by Christ Jesus. Will you refresh our souls? We come as the Children of Israel came to the wells of Elim, and we would now sit by the palm-trees. Let our souls gather strength. Give comfort to the mourners; give rebuke to those that slumber, and a word in season to everyone.

As for the minister, may he be one who brings forth out of the treasury things new and old. May there be food fitted for strong men, as well as milk for babies, and may we all of us retire from the Master’s house feeling that he has satisfied us with good things, and made us rejoice in himself. Our Father, hear and bless us for Jesus’ sake.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19)

When Christ calls us by his grace, we ought not only to remember what we are, but we ought also to think of what he can make us. It is, “Follow me, and I will make you.” We should repent of what we have been but rejoice in what we may be. It is not, “Follow me, because of what you are already.” It is not, “Follow me, because you may make something of yourselves,” but, “Follow me because of what I will make you.”

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Share your faith (and support gospel ministry in Washington DC)

Some of you know that I (Doug, the creator/editor of this newsletter) serve as a pastor in Washington DC. With God’s help, we are working to share the name of Christ in our nation’s capital — and there’s a very specific way that you can support our ministry this summer.

A few months ago, I started creating a new Bible study resource for my church. I wanted to create a super-simple tool that any Christian can use to read the Bible with a non-Christian friend. God is going to save sinners through the power of his Word — I wanted to create a tool that would give people in my church confidence to share the Bible with a non-Christian friend.

The result is Know Jesus: The Gospel According to Mark. This simple workbook is an easy-to-follow guide to help you bring a non-Christian through the Gospel According to Mark.

Each of the 15 sessions has a passage of Scripture, application questions, a single highlighted truth to reflect on, and a prayer point.

I’m really excited to see how God uses this resource in my church, but I need your help.

To raise funds to print these workbooks, I’m selling copies on Amazon. 100% of the profits from these sales will go to buy copies for non-Christians in DC (Every copy purchased = one given away for evangelism).

So I hope you’ll buy two copies — one for you and one for a non-Christian friend — and use this resource to share the hope of the gospel.

Buy Know Jesus on Amazon.

Pray with Spurgeon: Our God never changes — he is still mighty to save

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Blessed be your Name, ever-living God. Our neighbors die; friend after friend departs; few of us have not lost someone dear to us; but you abide the same, and of your years there is no end. We come to you.

You are this day as strong to deliver as in our fathers’ time; as true to your promise, and as mighty to perform your covenant as when you spoke to Abraham at Mamre, or worked mightily in the field of Zoan for the Children of Israel. You, O God, are forever strong and mighty. Never can your arm know palsy, nor can your brow decay.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

It is well that there is one person who is the same. It is well that there is one stable rock amidst the changing billows of this sea of life; for how many and how grievous have been the changes of last year?

Your cups of sweetness have been dashed with draughts of gall; your golden harvests have had tares cast into the midst of them, and you have had to reap the noxious weed along with the precious grain. Your much fine gold has become dim, and your glory has departed; the sweet frames at the commencement of last year became bitter ones at the end. Your raptures and your ecstacies were turned into depression and forebodings. Alas! for our changes, and hallelujah to him that has no change.

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Christ never changes (He’s still alive today)

Today’s prayer and verse of the day celebrated our unchanging God. It is wonderful to think that, in the midst of so much change, sorrow, and suffering in this world, Christ is the same.

Of course, we know mentally that Christ is alive today… but what is he doing? After Christ rose again, he ascended into heaven. And he is doing some astounding work there right now for your good.

To better understand what Christ has been doing since he rose from the dead, you should check out The Ascension of Christ by Patrick Schreiner. This book is an accessible introduction to an often-neglected doctrine.

I know that reading it will bring you a lot of joy as you reflect on Christ’s present ministry for you. Grab a copy and read it this summer.

Buy The Ascension of Christ:

Pray with Spurgeon: God, I want to serve you!

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We would humbly ask of you, that we may each one be permitted to do some great service for you, before we go hence. We do not mean great in the wisdom of our fellows, but let it be all that we can do. If we cannot build a house for you, yet have we set our hearts upon doing something; and if it be your will, direct our minds to what it shall be, lest our minds should not be your mind: but let not one of us be barren or unfruitful.

If we have indeed been redeemed by the blood of Christ, may we reckon that we must live to him; may the love of Christ constrain us; and may something come of our lives that shall be a blessing to the sons of men, ere we go hence.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15)

How much do you owe to your Lord? Has he ever done anything for you? Has he forgiven your sins? Has he covered you with a robe of righteousness? Has he set your feet upon a rock? Has he established your goings? Has he prepared heaven for you? Has he prepared you for heaven? Has he written your name in his book of life? Has he given you countless blessings? Has he laid up for you a store of mercies, which eye has not seen nor ear heard? Then do something for Jesus worthy of his love. Give not a mere wordy offering to a dying Redeemer.

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HEADLINE

Today we prayed that God would help us to serve him; that we would have some opportunity to bring him glory. This is what you were created for — not to build your own Kingdom, but to seek God’s. And it’s only when we live for THAT Kingdom, that we really start to live.

Recently, I’ve been really helped (and challenged) while reading A Quest for More: Living for Something Bigger than You by Paul Tripp. This book will invite you to living an incredible life, serving alongside Jesus, that will set you free from worry, legalism, and more.

Serving God isn’t about giving up your freedom — it’s about being set free to live the amazing purpose that God has for you.

This is an incredible life-giving book that will fill you with desire to know God and serve him with your all.

I hope you’ll buy a copy and read it this summer!

Buy A Quest for More:

Pray with Spurgeon: Christ is our captain, he will bring us through the storm

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Give us faith to believe this: when the stormy times come, let us not doubt, but what our Helmsman will bring us to the desired haven. Though winds and waves assault our keel, may we still find perfect peace, and rest in the thought that he, who is in the hinder part of the ship, is Master of winds and waves.

Comfort your children this morning, great Father, if any of them are in doubt just now; and bring them all into an assured confidence, and perfect restfulness in the Lord their God.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“… at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth…” (Philippians 2:10)

Look at him! Can your imagination picture him? Behold his transcendent glory! The majesty of kings is swallowed up; the pomp of empires dissolves like the white mist of the morning before the sun; the brightness of assembled armies is eclipsed. He in himself is brighter than the sun, more terrible than armies with banners. In heaven, in earth, in hell, all knees bend before him, and every tongue confesses that he is God.

If not now, yet in the time that is to come this shall be carried out, that every creature of God’s making shall acknowledge his Son to be “God over all, blessed forever” (Romans 9:5). My soul anticipates that blessed day, when this whole earth shall bend its knee before its God willingly! I do believe there is a happy era coming, when there shall not be one knee unbent before my Lord and Master.

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FINAL DAY: Save on the Spurgeon Study Bible*

This month, you can get the Spurgeon Study Bible for $10 when you spend $40 or more. That means today is the final day for this offer.

The Spurgeon Study Bible is an incredible resource for Bible study — I know that you will benefit from using it in your daily reading.

The study Bible contains hundreds of notes taken right from Spurgeon’s sermons, as well as a short biography of Spurgeon, 20 outlines of his earliest sermons (in his own handwriting), an introduction from Spurgeon for each book of the Bible, and more. The Bible is available in the CSB, KJV, and Spanish RVR 1960 translations.

Today is the last day to save, so grab your Spurgeon Study Bible now!

Buy the Spurgeon Study Bible on LifeWay.com (Use promo code 10OFF40 to save)

Pray with Spurgeon: God began it, and God will carry it on

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Truly, since we have received so many mercies at your hand, we do feel that you will never forsake us, nor in any darkness, which may be in our path in the future, will you desert your own. You have done too much for us, to desert us now. We have cost you so much—Oh wondrous price that you have paid for us—and you have spent so much of wise thought, and gracious act upon us, that we are persuaded you will go through with the work which your wisdom has undertaken.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

His confidence about the future of his converts was all in God. It was not confidence in them apart from the work of God in them. He says, “God began it, and God will carry it on.” He does not depend on the strength of their principles, nor the force of their resolutions, nor the excellence of their habits. He relies upon God, who will perform what he has begun.

Granted an immutable God, we may be sure that grace will complete what grace begins. Nor can God forsake the work of his own hands from lack of patience. A man might begin to bless another, and that other might be so ungrateful that the benefactor grows impatient, and gives him up. Will God fail in grace? Assuredly not. “His mercy endures forever.” The top and bottom of it is that our confidence in one another must only be confidence in God, and our confidence for ourselves must rest in God, or it will be sheer delusion.

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God has called you to not fall away; and he is holding onto you.

Today we prayed with confidence that God would keep us to the end and preserve our faith. We know this to be true — you were saved by grace, you are being kept by grace, and one day, you will be brought home by grace.

And yet, the Bible is full of warnings to not fall away and commands to hold on. Why are we commanded to do what God has promised to do for us? What is the relationship between our persevering and his preserving?

A great book for answering questions like that is Run to Win the Prize: Perseverance in the New Testament by Tom Schreiner. This is an incredible book that will fill you with the hope of Christ and encourage you to stay faithful to him until the very end.

If you are ever worried about losing your salvation, this book will comfort you.
If you are tempted to sin, this book will challenge you.

I know this short, practical, faithful book will encourage you, so I hope you’ll grab a copy today and read it this summer.

Buy Run to Win the Prize:

Pray with Spurgeon: God is worth waiting for

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, good God, blessed God; like David, we long to sit down before you in silence and wait awhile, for our words, when we do use them, are totally inadequate to the expression of what we feel, much more of what we ought to feel concerning your goodness and your loving-kindness; yet we will bless your name, with such language as we have.

Lord, our God, let others worship whom they will, and seek after what object of love they please, this God is our God forever and ever, He shall be our guide even unto death. Father, Son, and Spirit, the Triune God of Israel, we express most solemnly the reverence we feel for you; and render to you our humble adoration, as we acknowledge you to be the One and only God, by whom the heavens and the earth were made, by whom all things consist—the Redeemer of your people, their Father and their Friend, forever and ever! All our hearts worship you, oh, glorious Lord!

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans.” (Psalm 37:7)

Time is nothing to God; let it be nothing to you. God is worth waiting for. “He never is before his time, he never is too late.” In a story we wait for the end to clear up the plot; we ought not to prejudge the great drama of life, but stay till the closing scene.

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THREE DAYS LEFT: Study the Bible with Spurgeon himself*

The Spurgeon Study Bible.

Hundreds of study notes from Spurgeon’s sermons.

20 outlines of Spurgeon’s earliest sermons.

Introductions (from Spurgeon) on every book of the Bible.

If you love Spurgeon and love the Bible, you will not be disappointed in the Spurgeon Study Bible. And if you buy one THIS MONTH, you can save $10 on Lifeway.com if you spend $40 or more.

There’s just a few days left to save, so I hope you’ll grab a copy now.

Buy the Spurgeon Study Bible on LifeWay.com (Use promo code 10OFF40 to save $10)