Author: Charles Spurgeon

Pray with Spurgeon: We thank God for trials

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We thank you now in the retrospect, for the trials which we have endured. Some of us have been brought very low with physical pain and mental weariness, and others have been sore smitten with bereavement, losses and crosses, and persecutions; but there is not one out of all our trials which we could have afforded to have been without.

No, Lord, all has been ordered well; there was a need-be for every twig of the rod, and we desire now to thank you that we can see in looking back, how all things have even now worked together for good, though we know we cannot see the end as yet.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“One who is righteous has many adversities, but the LORD rescues him from them all.” (Psalm 34:19)

Thus are they made like Jesus their covenant Head. Scripture does not flatter us like the story books with the idea that goodness will secure us from trouble; on the contrary, we are again and again warned to expect tribulaion while we are in this body. Our afflictions come from all points of the compass, and are as many and as tormenting as the mosquitoes of the tropics. It is the earthly portion of the elect to find thorns and briers growing in their pathway, yes, to lie down among them, finding their rest broken and disturbed by sorrow.

But, blessed but, how it takes the sting out of the previous sentence! “But the LORD rescues him from them all.” Through troops of ills Jehovah shall lead his redeemed scatheless and triumphant. There is an end to the believer’s affliction, and a joyful end too. None of his trials can hurt so much as a hair of his head, neither can the furnace hold him for a moment after the Lord bids him come forth of it. The same Lord who sends the afflictions will also recall them when his design is accomplished, but he will never allow the fiercest of them to rend and devour his beloved.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Trust in God’s preserving, purifying power through all of your suffering

Today, we prayed a prayer of thanksgiving that God has preserved us (and others) through significant trials. And then, turning to God’s Word in Psalm 34:19, we saw that this is always the case: God is at work in your suffering to preserve you and to purify you.

This was one of the major themes in Spurgeon’s teaching on suffering, but it was not all he had to say on the topic. Spurgeon learned supernatural wisdom from God’s Word and his own pain on how to address our suffering in a God-glorifying, hopeful way.

Spurgeon’s teaching on suffering is very useful, so I compiled a brief collection of it in a short book, Spurgeon on Suffering. This book contains 12 classic sermons from Spurgeon on suffering, pain, and God’s grace through it all.

I hope you’ll buy a copy today, and I hope it will bless you.

(As a side note, purchasing a copy is a great way to support this ministry so that I can continue to send this daily newsletter!)

Buy Spurgeon on Suffering on Amazon (Paperback or Kindle edition)

Pray with Spurgeon: God pulled us out of the pit

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

You yourself did deliver us by leading us to cast a faith-look to the Divine, Only begotten, and crucified Son. At this moment vividly is it upon our recollection, how you brought us up out of the “horrible pit:” we remember now the new song which you put into our mouths, as we found our feet fast on the rock, and our goings established. It is long since then with some of us, but all the way has been strewn with mercies, and we desire this morning to record, “Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure.” (Psalm 40:2)

David sings of the Lord’s bringing him up from a pit that was horribly deep, dark, and damp, with mud at the bottom that would cause one to sink. What a wonderful bringing up this was, and, as God never does anything by halves, he did not let his servant slip back again, for David added, “And set my feet on a rock.” When God sets someone’s feet, those feet are well set. There is no sliding, no slipping. And more than that, God established his steps—made them firm so that when he stirred he did not stumble.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

God’s Plan to Rid You of Sin and Make you Like Jesus

Today, we prayed, celebrating that God has redeemed us from sin. But this work of redemption isn’t finished, because God doesn’t just want to save you from hell and leave you alone — he has a plan to redeem everything about you. He wants to rescue you from sin and bring you into a new life of loving and serving him.

To every Christian, that sounds amazing. We all want to be more like Christ and we all want to stop sinning, but there is a lot of confusion about how that happens. How will God change our lives?

That’s the point of Matt Chandler’s book, Recovering Redemption: A Gospel-Saturated Perspective on Change. This book explains the incredible work that God is going to do in your life to redeem everything about you.

This book will fill you with thankfulness and amazement at God’s work to save you from the penalty and power of sin every day. It will also help you understand your role in fighting sin.

This is a don’t-miss book to help make you more like Jesus. I hope you’ll grab one today.

Buy Recovering Redemption:

Pray with Spurgeon: Sin is strong (but God is stronger)

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh Lord, we would begin our praise by the acknowledgment of our natural condition; we would remember the miry clay, and the rock out of which we were made, for we were “by nature children of wrath even as others.” Well do we remember when we felt this, and when the bitterness and gall were in our mouths, of which we had to drink both day and night.

How heavy was the load of sin! All our thoughts were engrossed with that sense of pressure and of dread. We looked on the right hand and there was none, and on the left and we found no helper; but then you yourself delivered us by leading us to cast a faith-look to the Divine, Only begotten, and crucified Son.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,” (Romans 1:18)

Sinful people do not let the truth work in their hearts. They do not allow it to operate in their minds; instead, they try to make it an excuse for their sins. Some people attend church for years; and the truth has pricked them, troubled them, made them lie awake at night; but they hold it down. When we are afraid of the truth, we would do well to be afraid of hell also! When we and the truth quarrel, we had better end our fighting soon, for we will have the worst of it if we do not yield.

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ONE WEEK LEFT: Save on the Spurgeon Study Bible*

This month, you can get the Spurgeon Study Bible for $10 off when you spend $40 or more. That means there is only one week left 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.

This is the last week 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 of grace, please give me peace

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Bless our country, we pray, and we lift up again the voice of earnest prayer that peace may not be broken. Oh, let not bloodshed break forth in the midst of the continent; but may it please you to send wisdom to the councils of all nations, that by some means such a dreadful calamity may be avoided; and may he come who will end all danger of war, even the Prince of Peace himself, in whose days shall the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace so long as the moon endures. The Lord hear us now; and forgive, and answer, and bless, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus: and unto Israel’s one God, revealed to us in the Trinity of Mystic Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be glory by Christ Jesus.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Paul here meant that he could endure all trials. It matters not what suffering his persecutors might put upon him, he felt that he was quite able, through divine grace, to bear it. He daily expected that he might be led out to die, and the daily expectation of death is bitterer than death itself. He was ready to be offered up, and made a sacrifice for his Master’s cause. Every child of God, by faith, may say, “I am able to do all things.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

How Christ offers hope in the darkest valleys

Today was prayed for an end to war. This has become an urgent request over the last few months, as we’ve seen chaos unfold in Ukraine. It’s been increasingly obvious that we live in a world that is broken and we need Christ to redeem us.

I love the book Christ and Calamity: Grace and Gratitude in the Darkest Valley by Harold L. Senkbeil. This book offers simple, short, biblical devotions to help you grapple with suffering in your own life and in the world with the hope of God.

Christ does not run from your suffering — he runs towards you with hope and compassion, ready and able to help you and sustain you.

Buy Christ and Calamity:

Pray with Spurgeon: God, save those who look to themselves for hope

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, allow us to intercede with you a moment for our unconverted ones. Give us to feel great sorrow and heaviness of heart for those who, as yet, are far off from God: Lord, bring them in. O God, awaken the careless and frivolous—we know some who have never given any solemn consideration to the matters of their soul. May they be awakened and aroused today; and while we set forth the way of salvation by grace, may they feel their need of it, and be willing to accept it; and may the Lord save them this day.

May any that are anxious, but are missing the mark, looking to themselves instead of to Christ, learn the way of life and run in it. Save them, O God; yes, save this people.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift….” (Ephesians 2:8)

Grace is the first and last moving cause of salvation. Important as faith is, it is only an important part of the machinery which grace employs. Faith occupies the position of a channel or conduit. Grace is the fountain and the stream; faith is the aqueduct along which the flood of mercy flows down to refresh the thirsty sons of men.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Are you really saved? (You CAN know for sure)

Today we prayed for those who don’t know God’s grace in Christ. Some of these people are “looking to themselves instead of to Christ,” which makes it extremely difficult to share the gospel with them.

Here’s a resource to help you examine yourself: Am I Really a Christian? by Mike McKinley.

This book is a short Bible study on seven ways that the New Testament describes all Christians. If these things are true of you, then praise God, you can have assurance that you are born again. If these things are not true of you, then come to the cross in faith and find life in Jesus’ resurrection.

This book is a great resource for any Christian struggling with assurance. It is also a great book to read with a non-believer who claims to be a Christian — buy two and read it with a nominal Christian you know this year.

I hope you’ll take seriously the call to examine yourself, and I know that this book will be a helpful tool in the process.

Buy Am I Really a Christian?:

Pray with Spurgeon: Rejoice — God loves you with a never-ending love

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Prosper your universal church. Send the preaching of the pure gospel again to the world. Silence the voices of those that are spreading infidelity and superstition, and may the day come when every pulpit shall resound with the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, and his people shall again return to their allegiance to the faith—the faith once delivered to the saints, never to swerve again.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Shout for joy, you heavens! Earth, rejoice! Mountains break into joyful shouts! For the LORD has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.” (Isaiah 49:13)

Isaiah’s joy was too great for him to give adequate expression to it with his own solitary tongue, so he called on the great mountainous masses of inanimate nature to express the greatness of God’s love and tender mercy in comforting his people. And, when we come to think of it rightly, we see at once that it is a theme for wonder, worthy of the consideration of heaven and earth that the infinite God should stoop so low as to comfort finite and fallible creatures such as we are. Were there no more worlds to be created? Were there no other deeds of power and glory to be performed so that he must come to this poor earth to comfort the sick, the sad, and the sorrowing? The Lord is great in the majesty of his power, but he is equally great in the condescending character of his love and compassion.

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Only a Few Days Left to Save on the Spurgeon Study Bible*

This month, the Spurgeon Study Bible is available at a discount for “Pray with Spurgeon” subscribers (Just use promo code 10OFF40 and you can save $10 when you spend $40 or more.).

There’s just a few days left in June, which means there’s just a few days left to grab this great deal and add the Spurgeon Study Bible to your library.

Here’s what you’ll find inside…

– Hundreds of notes taken right from Spurgeon’s sermons
– A short biography of Spurgeon
– 20 outlines of his earliest sermons (in his own handwriting)
– Spurgeon’s illustrations for key themes throughout the Bible.
– An introduction from Spurgeon for each book of the Bible
– Available in the CSB, KJV, and Spanish RVR 1960 translations.

This is a great resource. I hope you’ll add The Spurgeon Study Bible to your library today and save!

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

Pray with Spurgeon: A prayer for those who are hopeless

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

At this hour, which is an hour of grace, we would ask you to help any of your children who are under bondage. If they have lost their hope, if their faith has become weak, if their love burns low—Lord renew the youth of your people, like that of the eagles’; and let them mount up with eagles, and rise above their doubts, their deadness, and their care.

Should any of your servants be in deep trouble, will you grant them grace to glory in tribulation also, because it works patience, experience, and hope. And may the Lord grant to all his tried and troubled ones, beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I rejoice greatly in the LORD, I exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a groom wears a turban and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10)

When God looks at his people, he does not see them—he sees his Son. He looks through that heavenly medium and sees them in his Son. The Lord has covered them with the robe of righteousness. The children of God who weep because of their sins can be joyful in the Lord. We are righteous in the righteousness of Christ that God has imputed to us by faith in his Son.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Teach the wonder of God to children

The best strategy for protecting our children from false teaching is to teach them theology. Theology, properly taught, will awaken wonder and awe in any child’s heart.

A great resource for teaching theology to children (ages 7-13) is Emblems of the Infinite King. The book describes crucial, biblical doctrines about God with beautiful text and stunning illustrations. I love reading this book to my kids, but I also love reading it on my own. 🤓

Awaken your children to the wonder of God and invite them to approach his throne with fear and trembling through Emblems of the Infinite King.

Buy Emblems of the Infinite King:

Pastor, give the church your everything

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

The solemn work with which the Christian ministry concerns itself demands a man’s all, and that all at its best. To engage in it half-heartedly is an insult to God and man. Slumber must forsake our eyelids sooner than men shall be allowed to perish. Yet we are all prone to sleep as do others, and students, among the rest, are apt to act the part of the foolish virgins; therefore have I sought to speak out my whole soul, in the hope that I might not create or foster dulness in others. May he in whose hand are the churches and their pastors bless these words to younger brethren in the ministry, and if so I shall count it more than a full reward, and shall gratefully praise the Lord.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe using the Bible to interpret the Bible.

The only way to cut a diamond is by a diamond: diamond dust must be used if the gem is to be cut. In like manner, the best way to understand Scripture is by Scripture itself. One of the best commentaries in the world is that which is “wholly biblical.” Students of the Word, I pray you, study the Bible by the Bible; cut the diamond with the diamond; use the light of God in God’s light: “In Thy light shall we see light.”

THANKS FOR READING

Brothers,

Whether you are comfortable with “success,” or complacent with the current state of your church, it’s extremely tempting to coast in ministry. We have to discipline ourselves to think creatively, biblically, and robustly about how to advance the mission, build up our people, train leaders, and reach the lost.

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: God, save me from sin today

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We cry to you for holiness. You know that we do not expect to be saved by it; but we do look upon it as salvation, to be saved from sin, to be delivered from corruption; to be emancipated from the bondage of the evil is the great thought of our spirit, and we look forward to heaven with this as one of its highest felicities, that we shall be without fault before the throne of God, and that nothing that defiles shall ever enter there.

O Lamb of God, by whom we have been redeemed from sin and washed from uncleanness, will you graciously daily wash our feet, that we may be clean every whit, and may enter in through the gates into the city, and be among those of whom it is written—“They shall walk with me in white for they are worthy.”

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people…” (Ephesians 6:7)

Our work for Jesus must be the outgrowth of the soil of the heart. Our service must not be performed as a matter of routine. There must be vigor, power, freshness, reality, eagerness, and warmth about it; or it will be good for nothing. No fish ever came upon God’s altar because it could not come there alive. The Lord wants none of our dead, heartless worship.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Spurgeon’s Earliest Sermons (And Hundreds of Other Resources)

This month, the Spurgeon Study Bible is available at a discount for “Pray with Spurgeon” subscribers (Just use promo code 10OFF40 to save $10 off a purchase of $40 or more).

One of my favorite features of the Spurgeon Study Bible is the LOST SERMONS. Throughout the study Bible, you can find outlines of some of Spurgeon’s earliest sermons — you can even see them in Spurgeon’s own handwriting!

Up until a few years ago, they had never been published or widely read, and now there are 20 of them available right in your Spurgeon Study Bible. These sermons are saturated with rich gospel content. I know they will bless and encourage you.

The Lost Sermons are just one of the many incredible features to this Study Bible. I highly recommend grabbing one this month at a discount.

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

Pray with Spurgeon: God, help us to love you and love others with our whole hearts

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, help us to live towards you in all devotion, confidence, obedience, resignation and simple childlike trust. Help us to love you with all our heart and soul and mind. Enable us also to live to our fellow men according to your word, loving our neighbor as ourselves. Save us from all unneighborly tempers, all hard thoughts, all slanderous words. Deliver us from bearing any anger in our heart, from everything that is ungenerous or unkind please save us, and let the law of love be written on the fleshy tablets of our renewed heart, and be carried out in all the thoughts and words and acts of our lives.

Especially help us to master our tongue; for if that be bridled the whole body will be manageable. Keep us, O God, when we are in company, and equally preserve us when we are in secret. Help us to keep the door of our lips; and grant that when that door is opened there may not come out of it sweet water and bitter, may we not both bless and curse, but may we speak that which is good to edification, and may our speech be also seasoned with salt.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“… and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)

Brethren, to be prepared for the coming conflict, we have only to preach the gospel, and to live the gospel; and also to take care that we teach the children the Word of the Lord. This last is especially to be attended to, for it is from the mouth of babes that God will still the enemy. It is idle to dream that human learning must be met by human learning, or that Satan must cast out Satan. No.

Lift up the brazen serpent wherever the fiery serpents are biting the people, and men shall look to it and live. Bring the children out, and hold them up, and turn their little eyes towards the divinely-ordained remedy; for still there is life in a look—life as against the varied venoms of the serpent which are now poisoning the blood of men.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

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

In today’s verse of the day, Spurgeon exhorted us to turn the eyes of our children to trust and treasure God by teaching them his Word. If you’ve read this newsletter for a while, you know that this is a topic I’m really passionate about.

And that’s why I’ve been 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.

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.

(This book was sold out for several weeks and is FINALLY back in stock — so I hope you’ll grab a copy now, while you still can!)

Buy Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it: