Author: Charles Spurgeon

Pastor, you have the cure for every spiritual sickness

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

We believe in the gospel as God’s power to save. We know that, for every case of spiritual sickness, we have an infallible cure; we need not say to any man, “We have no good news from God for you.” We believe that there is a way of getting at all hearts. There is a joint in every sinner’s harness, though he be an Ahab, and we may draw the bow hopefully, praying the Lord to direct the arrow through it.

If we believe in God, nothing can be too hard or too heavy for us. If I believe only in myself, I feel that a hardened sinner may refuse to listen to my reasoning, and may not be moved by my affectionate address; but if I believe in the Holy Ghost, I feel that he can win a hearing, and carry conviction to the conscience. We believe, brethren, in the power of truth. We do not expect truth to be loved by all mankind; we do not expect the gospel to become popular among the great and the learned, for we remember that word of the apostle, “Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth” (1 Corinthians 1:26) but we do not believe that the gospel has become decrepit through old age.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe the relationship between faith and reason.

Christians do not triumph over the world by reason. Not at all. Reason is a very good thing, and nobody should find fault with it. Reason is a candle: but faith is a sun. Well, I prefer the sun, though I do not put out the Candle. I use my reason as a Christian man; I exercise it constantly: but when I come to real warfare, reason is a wooden sword; it breaks, it snaps; while faith, that sword of true Jerusalem metal, cuts to the dividing of soul and body.

Pray with Spurgeon: God will never forsake us (we have cost too much)

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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 hast 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.

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 steers our 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)

“Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

In this promise, God gives to his people everything. “I will never leave you.” Then no attribute of God can cease to be engaged for us. Is he mighty? He will show himself strong on the behalf of them that trust him. Is he love? Then with lovingkindness will he have mercy upon us. Whatever attributes may compose the character of Deity, every one of them to its fullest extent shall be engaged on our side.

There is nothing you can want, there is nothing you can ask for, there is nothing you can need in time or in eternity, there is nothing living, nothing dying, there is nothing in this world, nothing in the next world, there is nothing now, nothing at the resurrection-morning, nothing in heaven which is not contained in this text—“I will never leave you or forsake you.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Feeling weary? Be refreshed in the glorious gospel of God’s grace*

Spurgeon’s classic book All of Grace is a much-needed message for our current day. So many Christians (myself included!) are feeling weary and worn down by the weight of our sin. If you’re feeling weary as the year draws to a close—you need to know that God has grace for you.

All of Grace is such a valuable book. Spurgeon’s joy in God’s grace is overflowing from every page. This book is more refreshing than a dip in the pool this summer.

There’s a new audiobook of All of Grace available now. Listening to solid Christian audio is a great way to redeem the time spent on menial tasks (like doing dishes, commuting, or anything else). I hope you’ll check out the All of Grace audiobook. I know that it will encourage your faith and help you grow in grace.

Listen to a free sample of All of Grace on Audible.

*Sponsored advertising content.

Pray with Spurgeon: My words cannot express God’s love

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, good God, blessed God, we would 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 exist—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)

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 1:3–4)

How sweet it is to behold the Savior communing with his own beloved people! There can be nothing more delightful than, by the Divine Spirit, to be led into this fertile field of delight. Let the mind for an instant consider the history of the Redeemer’s love, and a thousand enchanting acts of affection will suggest themselves, all of which have had for their design the weaving of the heart into Christ, and the intertwisting of the thoughts and emotions of the renewed soul with the mind of Jesus.

When we meditate upon this amazing love, and behold the all-glorious Kinsman of the Church endowing her with all his ancient wealth, our souls may well faint for joy. Who is he that can endure such a weight of love?

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Find great joy in our great God

Today we prayed and read about God’s beautiful, unfailing, unstoppable love. To enjoy this love is the point of the Christian life. That’s why God created you: to know him and enjoy him forever.

If you want to learn more about what it actually looks like to enjoy God in your every day life, I want to to recommend Desiring God by John Piper. This book is an incredible explanation of how God invites us to know him for our joy. This book will leave you amazed at God’s glory, and thoroughly, unshakeable happy in God.

This is a great book to read slowly throughout the rest of this summer. I hope you’ll grab a copy and enjoy it — I know you’ll be blessed by it.

Buy Desiring God:

Pray with Spurgeon: Bless the Lord (Do not forget his benefits)

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

At this moment vividly is it upon our recollection, how you brought us up out of the “horrible pit” (Psalm 40:3). We remember now the new song which you did 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, “My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

We thank you now in 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; every twig of the rod was necessary, 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)

“My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all his benefits.” (Psalm 103:2)

Not so much as one of the divine dealings should be forgotten, they are all really beneficial to us, all worthy of himself, and all subjects for praise. Memory is very treacherous about the best things; perverted by the fall, it treasures up the refuse of the past and permits priceless treasures to lie neglected, it is tenacious of grievances and holds benefits all too loosely. It needs spurring to its duty, though that duty ought to be its delight. Observe that he calls all that is within him to remember all the Lord’s benefits. For our task our energies should be suitably called out. God’s all cannot be praised with less than our all.

Reader, have we not cause enough at this time to bless him who blesses us? The name of ungrateful is one of the most shameful that a man can wear; surely we cannot be content to run the risk of such a brand. Let us awake then, and with intense enthusiasm bless the Lord.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Do you want to enjoy God more this summer? Here’s Spurgeon’s advice.*

Because our God is so wonderful, the more you know of him, the more you will enjoy him. But what does it look like to grow in our knowledge of God?

And how do we grow in this knowledge without growing cold?

That’s the subject of Spurgeon’s book The Saint and His Saviour. This book is an incredibly practical guide to growing in your knowledge of God in order to grow in your love for God.

Reading this book will help you pursue God and fight sin. This book is an invaluable resource for growing in the Christian life. If you enjoy this newsletter every day, you will love this book even more — this is Spurgeon at his best.

There’s a new audiobook production of The Saint and His Saviour out now from Goodwill Audiobook Classics Library.

This audiobook is a stunning production and it’s a great way to fit this book into your summer plans. Turn it on for your summer road trips, yard work, or any other activity you have planned for the summer.

I hope you’ll enjoy this audiobook edition of The Saint and His Saviour this summer.

Buy The Saint and His Saviour Audiobook Now.

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Pray with Spurgeon: Jesus saved me from the worst of sin

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh Lord, we begin our praise by the acknowledgment of our natural condition; we would remember the miry clay, and the rock whence we were hewn, for we were “were by nature children under wrath as the others were also” (Ephesians 2:3). 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. You brought us up out of the “horrible pit” (Psalm 40:2)

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)

When our Lord bore in his own person the terrible curse which was due to sin, he was so cast down as to be like a prisoner in a deep, dark, fearful dungeon, amid whose horrible glooms the captive heard a noise as of rushing torrents, while overhead resounded the tramp of furious foes. Our Lord in his anguish was forgotten of all mankind, surrounded by horror, darkness, and desolation. Yet God made him to ascend from all his abasement; he retraced his steps from that deep hell of anguish into which he had been cast as our substitute. He who thus delivered us from our worst sin, will not fail to liberate us from our far lighter griefs.

The Redeemer’s work is done. He rests on the firm ground of his accomplished engagements; he can never suffer again; forever does he reign in glory. 

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Christ-centered Father’s Day Gift

If you’re looking for a Christ-centered Father’s Day gift for a Spurgeon fan in your life, check out my new Spurgeon Journal.

I put this together as a resource for sermon notes, prayer journaling, Bible study, or any other kind of note-taking. It’s a simple lined journal with a quote from Spurgeon on every page. I hope this is a helpful way to bring Spurgeon’s wisdom into our daily lives.

Buy the Spurgeon Journal on Amazon (Hardback or Paperback editions)

Pray with Spurgeon: May Jesus rule as the prince of 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 councillors 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)

“Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.” (Romans 10:3)

Man must have a righteousness of one kind or another; and if he has not a God-given righteousness, he seeks to have one of his own making. As the spider spins her web out of her own bowels, so do sinful men try to manufacture a righteousness out of that which is within them; but this they can never do. The only righteousness which will stand the test of the day of judgment is that which God bestows upon believers in his Son Jesus Christ. Oh, that all men were willing to submit themselves to the righteousness of God!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Grow in godliness. Let Spurgeon be your guide.*

The Christian life is a wild ride — full of twists and turns, but we are pained by sin and suffering but we know that we are always kept safe by our great King Jesus.

Really — through it all, our great God is helping you, holding you, inviting you to know him.

That’s the topic of Spurgeon’s book, The Saint and His Saviour. He wrote this book to help you know God and find more joy in him.

This book is an incredibly practical guide to pursuing God and fighting sin.

I promise you, if you read this book, you will grow in godliness, you will enjoy God more.

It will be well worth your time to read this summer.

I’m incredibly thankful for a new audiobook edition of The Saint and His Saviour, out now from Goodwill Audiobook Classics Library. This audiobook is a great production — it’s one of the best ways to start reading The Saint and His Saviour today.

This audiobook is an incredible resource — I hope you’ll grab this new audiobook and listen this summer.

Buy The Saint and His Saviour Audiobook Now.
(It’s also available in paperback and Kindle formats.)

*Sponsored Advertising Content

Pastor, don’t live for money

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

If we divide ourselves between God and money, or Christ and self, we shall make no progress. We must give ourselves wholly to holy things, or else we shall be poor traders in heavenly business, and at our stock-taking no profit will be shown.

Am I a minister? Let me be a minister wholly, and not spend my energies upon secondary concerns. What have I to do with party politics, or vain amusements? Am I a Christian? Let me make my service of Jesus my occupation, my life-work, my one pursuit. We must be in-and-in with Jesus, and then out-and-out for Jesus, or else we shall make neither progress nor profit, and neither the church nor the world will feel that forceful influence which the Lord would have us exercise.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe the folly of living for the world.

We know there have been great battles where nations have met in strife, and one has overcome the other; but who has read of a victory that overcame the world? Some will say that Alexander the Great was its conqueror; but I answer, nay. He was himself the vanquished man, even when all things were in his possession. He fought for the world, and won it; and then mark how it mastered its master, conquered its conquerer, and lashed the monarch who had been its scourge.

See the royal youth weeping, and stretching out his hands with idiotic cries, for another world which he might ravage. He seemed, in outward show, to have overcome old earth; but, in reality, within his inmost soul, the earth had conquered him, had overwhelmed him, had wrapped him in the dream of ambition, girdled him with the chains of covetousness, so that when he had all, he was still dissatisfied; and, like a poor slave, was dragged on at the chariot wheels of the world, crying, moaning, lamenting, because he could not win another. Who is the man that ever overcame the world?

Pray with Spurgeon: God is near to save anxious sinners

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, suffer 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 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)

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call to him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

In these happy gospel times, when Christ is set forth on purpose that “he may be found,” seek him, call upon him. He is very near when the gospel is preached with holy unction, when Christians are praying, when hearts are breaking for the conversion of sinners, and when his Spirit is working in their hearts, that they may repent of sin.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;” that is, now. “Call to him while he is near;” he is near now. Wherever Christ is lifted up, and his gospel is proclaimed, he is there according to his promise, “remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

You can be the answer to today’s prayer

Today we prayed for God to draw sinners to himself. But this isn’t just something we pray for — this is something we get to be a part of!

Evangelism is the responsibility of every Christian. We should be honored to carry the good news of King Jesus to hell-bound sinners. But evangelism is a daunting task and we need help to persevere ⠀
⠀
That’s why Spurgeon wrote his book The Soul Winner — to encourage every Christian to do the work of evangelism. This book isn’t a typical evangelism guilt trip, it will fill you up with amazement and excitement at the privilege of evangelism. We get to tell people about Christ! That’s amazing!

I hope The Soul Winner will be a helpful resource as you prepare to share the hope of Christ this summer.

Buy The Soul Winner:

Pray with Spurgeon: Cling to the old-fashioned gospel, beloved

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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. 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.

O God, suffer 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.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” (Romans 10:14–15)

Here you have the whole plan of salvation. Christ is preached, sinners hear the message of the gospel, they believe it, and so they are saved. What a mass of rubbish men have interjected into this blessed simple plan! What counterfeits of so-called human doings and external paraphernalia of all sorts they have interjected! God requires none of their fripperies, and fineries, and ornate performances, but simply says, “Believe, and live.”

How different is this from the cumbrous, complicated plan by which men would destroy our souls! Cling to the old-fashioned gospel, beloved, and never turn away from it. There is nothing that can take the place of the simplicity of divine truth. God grant that throughout England, and from one end of the world to the other, salvation by believing, the result of hearing the gospel, may be proclaimed.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

The gospel isn’t just for you — it’s for the whole world

Today we prayed for the true gospel to spread to all of the earth. A few years ago, through several books and sermons, my life was completely changed when I discovered God’s unparalleled passion for all nations. Global missions is the center of God’s passion — so to be apathetic about it is to be distinctly ungodly.

To help you understand God’s glorious plan for all the nations of the earth, I want to recommend two resources.

First, The Great Imbalance by David Platt is the most recent Secret Church event. This is several hours of in-depth Bible study unpacking God’s heart for all nations and what we must do about it. You can watch the sessions for free on Radical.net.

Second, the book Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper will help you understand why God cares about all the nations of the earth. Piper creates an incredible case to show that God cares about all nations of the earth because his glory is at stake. If every nation doesn’t worship, then God will not be glorified as he should be. So we have to care.

I hope and pray that Let the Nations Be Glad will fill your heart with a passion for God’s glory among all nations.

Buy Let the Nations Be Glad:

Pray with Spurgeon: We rise up above doubt and worry

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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’ (Psalm 103:5); 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)

“He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.” (Psalm 103:5)

Renewal of strength, amounting to a grant of a new lease of life, was granted to the Psalmist; he was so restored to his former self that he grew young again, and looked as vigorous as an eagle, whose eye can gaze upon the sun, and whose wing can mount above the storm, most fearless, most majestic, and most soaring.

Thus is the endless chain of grace complete. Sin is forgiven, its power subdued, and its penalty averted, then we are honored, supplied, and our very nature renovated, till we are as new-born children in the household of God.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Real Hope for All Your Fears and Anxiety

Today’s prayer featured a stunning image — God renewing his people so that we can soar, like an eagle, above all of our doubts and worries. Unfortunately, dealing with our fears isn’t always so easy, is it? We won’t grow past our fears unless we address them with solid biblical truth.

That’s the point of Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest by Ed Welch. This book offers a biblical perspective on fear and worry in general, and then zooms in to offer biblical hope for some of the most common fears (e.g., fear of money, fear of people, fear of death, etc.).

Reading Running Scared will give you more confidence in God and his Word that will help you deal with your own fears and to share the hope of the Bible with others too.

Buy Running Scared:

*P.S. Amazon is currently running a special deal for Prime members — you can save more than 50% on your first four months of an Audible membership. This is a great way to grab some great Christ-centered audiobooks like Running Scared.