Author: Charles Spurgeon

Pray with Spurgeon: God’s face brings us endless joy

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, make our joy today to be like Jabez, of whom we read that he was more honorable than his brethren because his mother bore him with sorrow (1 Chronicles 4:9). Oh, that the sorrow pang might bring forth today in your people some new joys, some blessed novelty of fellowship, that we may enter yet more and more into the secret places and tabernacles of the Most High, and dwell beneath the shadow of the Almighty.

O Lord, your people want this; nothing can so strengthen comfort, lighten, sanctify and perfect us as this. Are we earth bound? Oh, for your presence, and we shall be of a heavenly mind. Are we deeply depressed in spirit? Oh, for the light of your face, for it shall make us gladder than a wedding day. Oh that we might get to you, our God, for then shall the bonds of this world seem like cobwebs and disappear.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“How can you believe, since you accept glory from one another but don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44)

The mere fact of receiving honor, even if that honor is rightly rendered, can make faith in Christ difficult. We can come to feel that we are something when others honor us, and this is dangerous, for we won’t believe in Jesus until we know we are nothing in and of ourselves. If others praise us, if they dwell on our good points, if they pay respect to our position, if they notice our abilities and talents, we are apt to think there should be some special way to heaven for us because we are so respected. And when the gospel says, “You must be saved as a sinner or not at all. You must give up all claims of merit and all reliance on what you can do, or else you never can be saved,” then, in all probability, the mere fact of our having received honor from other people will render it the more difficult for us to believe a doctrine that gives no honor to people but stains the pride of all glory and casts human excellency into the dust.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Dive into the glories of Jesus by studying the Bible

I’m currently preparing to preach through the Letter to the Hebrews next year. I’m REALLY excited to be diving into this book and better understand its message: how rightly seeing Jesus motivates us to persevere in faith.

One resource that I’m thankful for already is Hebrews for You by Michael Kruger. This is a simple commentary that can help readers of any level better understand and apply the book of Hebrews. It’s written for any Christian to use and benefit from, not just pastors or seminary graduates.

A few things I love about this book: really clear explanation of the biblical text (without skipping over the tricky parts!), a glossary with definitions of key words, reflection questions throughout each chapter, and more.

Kruger is a great New Testament scholar and such an incredibly clear writer. This book is such a valuable resource.

If you’re looking for a guide to help you better understand the Bible and love Jesus more, Hebrews for You will be a great resource. I hope you’ll pick up a copy today and study Hebrews with me.

Buy Hebrews for You:

Pastor, you must be godly (your gifts are not enough)

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

For the herald of the gospel to be spiritually out of order in his own proper person is, both to himself and to his work, a most serious calamity; and yet, my brethren, how easily is such an evil produced, and with what watchfulness must it be guarded against!

Traveling one day by express from Perth to Edinburgh, we suddenly came to a dead stop, because a very small screw in one of the engines—every railway locomotive consisting virtually of two engines—had been broken, and when we started again we were obliged to crawl along with one piston-rod at work instead of two. Only a small screw was gone, if that had been right the train would have rushed along its iron road, but the absence of that insignificant piece of iron disarranged the whole. A train is said to have been stopped on one of the United States’ railways by flies in the grease-boxes of the carriage wheels.

The analogy is perfect; a man in all other respects fitted to be useful, may by some small defect be exceedingly hindered, or even rendered utterly useless. Such a result is all the more grievous, because it is associated with the gospel, which in the highest sense is adapted to effect the grandest results

SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe prayers that glorify God.

A person cannot always speak in the name of another; cannot do it at all unless he has received an authorization so to do. Then he stands as that person’s deputy; stands in his place; speaks in his name. I am sure that nine out of ten of the prayers of Christians are not offered in the name of Christ, and could not be. It would be a sin against Christ for such prayers to be supposed to be the prayers of Christ. But when we talk of the Spirit of God, and we dare ask in the name and use the seal of Christ, to set his signature at the bottom of our petition, then, brethren, depend upon it. Christ will do it.

THANKS FOR READING

Brothers,

Our giftings in ministry are blessings from God. And they are not enough to sustain your ministry.

We must be godly men. In private. In our dealings with others. In our homes. We must be godly men.

Brothers, find someone who will keep you accountable, ask hard questions, and spur you on towards godliness. You need it. Your church needs it.

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
Preaching Pastor of Pillar Church of Washington DC

Pray with Spurgeon: God’s face brings us endless joy

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, we want this morning to enter into closest possible fellowship with you. In days gone by you have cast your skirt over your servants. In the shadow of your wings we have rejoiced. In the light of your face we have been ready to die of excessive joy. The coming near to us of our God has been heaven, it is indeed all the heaven we expect in the future, as it is all we have known in the past.

Come near, O our God, come nearer, nearer, nearer. Still some secret to our heart reveal, as yet undiscovered. You have led some of us into darkness and not into light, and you have covered us in the night watches and made it darkness round about us, until our spirit sank within us. Now it is your way to bring light out of darkness, and joy out of sorrow.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“… casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

His care, though tender and comprehensive, causes no anxiety to him, for his great mind is more than equal to the task. But our care ferments within us and threatens the destruction of our meager souls. We are to cast our care, which is folly, upon the Lord, for he exercises a care, which is wisdom. Care to us is exhausting, but God is all sufficient. Care to us is sinful, but God’s care of us is holy. Care distracts us from service, but the divine mind does not forget one thing while remembering another.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Real Hope for All Your Fears and Anxiety
Real Help to Trust God More

Today we prayed, acknowledging that God can bring us into darkness — seasons of trials. And we saw in his Word that he is gracious and powerful enough to take care of all of our needs.

Unfortunately, dealing with our anxiety isn’t always so easy, is it? We won’t grow past our worries unless we address them with solid biblical truth.

A great book on growing your faith in God is Trusting God by Jerry Bridges. This book focuses on God’s sovereignty, his good control over all things, and shows that we really can trust God in any circumstance. This book is full of reasons to trust God and applies those reasons to specific trials in our lives that make it particularly hard to trust God.

This book will strengthen your faith and confidence in our great God — I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy Trusting God:

Pray with Spurgeon: Jesus gave his life that we might live

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, you are our God, and therefore do we seek unto you. We have a covenant interest in you — you have given yourself to us of old in the person of your dear Son. You are our assurance. You, O Savior, did stand for us in the transactions of eternity. You redeemed us in the fullness of time, laying down your life that we might live, and now you are All-in-All to us. Our life is not in ourselves, but in you. Our truest and best self is Christ, for we live not, save only as our “life is hid with Christ in God.”

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Jesus is the Builder, and he and his apostles make up the first course of stone in the great temple of the church, and this first course is one with the eternal Rock on which it rests. In the first twelve courses or foundations are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:14). We are “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). Apostles are not the foundation of our confidence meritoriously; but they underlie us as to date, and we rest upon their testimony concerning Jesus and his resurrection.

He makes his rock-founded building into a stronghold, against which the powers of evil lay continual siege, but all in vain.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A simple read to help you love your church more

Today’s Verse of the Day highlighted Jesus’ commitment to build his church. Your local church is not an activity or entertainment — it is the family that God has given you to keep you alive.

We all need to grow to love our local church family more. And a great resource for helping you along the way is Love Your Church by Tony Merida. This is a new book that outlines eight great things about being a church member. I’m so thankful for the book’s faithfulness to Scripture and practical application.

The book is simple and short. I promise you, if you will read this book and apply it’s lessons to your own local church, you will grow in love for your church family and grow in godliness as a result.

Buy Love Your Church:

Pray with Spurgeon: May my sin be totally destroyed

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We are wretched, because of this, and we cry out to you to deliver us. Oh that you would deliver us! We do thank you, that Jesus gives us the victory; but we long to have that victory in ourselves more constantly realized—more perfectly enjoyed.

We would lie in the very dust before you because of sin; and yet, at the same time, rejoice in the great Sin-bearer, that the sin is not imputed to us, that it is put away by his precious blood, that we are accepted in the Beloved. But even this does not content us; we are crying after the work of the Holy Ghost within, until Satan shall be bruised under our feet, and sin shall be utterly destroyed.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.” (2 Peter 1:10)

We are told not to be slothful in business, and this matter of which Peter writes is the most important of all business. To prosper in this world may bring some advantages, but to prosper in heavenly things is infinitely better. “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure,”—that you may be sure of it, and that others may be sure of it too. Let it not continue a subject of question with you, “Am I the Lord’s, or am I not? Am I called by grace, am I chosen by God, or am I not?” Make these things sure beyond all doubt.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Lay a Crucial Foundation for Your Bible Study, Small Group, or Discipleship*

We have a responsibility — not just to deepen our own faith, but to help others grow as well. Every Christian must turn to the Word to understand God and the world he created, and we must point OTHERS to the Word as well!

I’m always looking for good resources to help other Christians grow — especially resources that can easily be used in small groups or one-on-one. And I’m really excited about Learn the Gospel by Tony Payne.

This isn’t just a book. It’s a “Learn Together” book, which means it’s been carefully designed for you to use with OTHERS, so that you can help one another grow.

Some of the key features…

There are reflection questions throughout the book to help you reflect on the material (and the Scripture passages throughout), which I know will spark really useful discussion.

There are also free videos that will be referenced throughout the book, which your group can watch together to help keep everyone engaged.

(And the videos are really cool. They have really helpful graphics and visuals to help illustrate key concepts from the book.)

There are simple follow-up activities to help you and other participants continue reflecting on the material and even memorizing a simple gospel presentation you can share with others.

Seriously, this is a REALLY great resource. I know you and other Christians you know will benefit from it.

AND, to make it even better, THIS MONTH ONLY, if you buy one or more copies of Learn the Gospel, you’ll also receive FIVE FREE copies of The Essential Jesus (which walks non-Christians through Luke’s Gospel).

Buy Learn the Gospel from Matthias Media and receive five free copies of The Essential Jesus.

Pray with Spurgeon: We desire to be like Jesus

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We ask for ourselves that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We long to be confirmed and established in the truth, and in the life of God. We wish to rise higher and higher in the likeness to our Lord, and in the possession of his Spirit. Oh bring us up out of our grave, out of our sins, out of the world, and everything that drags us down. Bring us up into the higher regions of spirituality, and of divine light and power. Oh, be with us our God; give us all the blessings of the Covenant without restraint.

Take care of all sick ones very graciously, and may such as are appointed unto death feel a sweet agreement with the appointment and find heaven begun in their hearts while yet they linger here below. The Lord prosper his own cause throughout the earth. Let the nations be brought to Christ by myriads. May men that now sit in darkness behold great light.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Who is like the LORD our God— the one enthroned on high,” (Psalm 113:5)

The challenge will never be answered. None can be compared with him for an instant; Israel’s God is without parallel; our own God in covenant stands alone, and none can be likened unto him. Even those whom he has made like himself in some respects are not like him in godhead, for his divine attributes are many of them incommunicable and inimitable. None of the metaphors and figures by which the Lord is set forth in the Scriptures can give us a complete idea of him: his full resemblance is borne by nothing in earth or in heaven. Only in Jesus is the Godhead seen, but he unhesitatingly declared, “he who has seen me has seen the Father.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Finding Scripture-saturated hope in the midst of doubt and suffering

For Christians, doubt is often associated with our own experiences of suffering. It is hard to believe in a good and powerful God when we feel so much pain in this broken world.

In the midst of suffering, it is easy to doubt God’s love for us and feel as if he has deserted us. An excellent book to help you find hope and faith through that kind of suffering is Deserted by God? by Sinclair Ferguson.

This book offers several reflections on the Psalms of lament in the Bible, where divinely-inspired authors cried out to God in the midst of their pain.

No matter what trials you are currently going through (or will go through in the future), Deserted by God? will give you the kind of Bible-saturated firm faith you need to endure. I hope you will grab a copy today.

Buy Deserted by God?:

Pray with Spurgeon: Holy Spirit, we can do nothing without you

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O our Blessed Lord, you have ascended on high and given gifts to men. We pray that you would grant us our measure of those gifts. Give to your believing people the Holy Spirit. May we receive him abundantly, in clearness of insight into your Word, in closeness of fellowship with yourself, in greater likeness to your character, in greater zeal for your glory. What are your people, without your Spirit resting on us? Holy Spirit, dwell in us. We cannot even pray aright without you; and for those works of holiness to which we are set apart, we have no strength without you. But if you are with us, we can do all things.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.” (1 John 1:5)

Not a light, nor the light, though he is both, but that he is light. Scripture uses the term light for knowledge, for purity, for prosperity, for happiness, and for truth. God is light—and then in his usual style John, who not only tells you a truth but always guards it, adds, “and there is no darkness in him at all,” there is no darkness of sin, or ignorance, or error about God.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Plunge further into 1 John

Each day this week, the “Verse of the Day” section in this newsletter has featured Spurgeon’s commentary on 1 John. This is such a wonderful book for understanding what it really means to follow Christ and how to have true assurance.

If you’re looking for a simple, easy-to-use Bible study that will help you unpack and understand every part of 1 John, I highly recommend the Knowing the Bible series from Crossway. These books are really simple Bible studies that help you read the book for yourself (rather than just telling you exactly how to think).

This series is really incredible and, for some reason, no one really ever talks about them.

I hope you’ll check out the book on 1 John (and maybe bring someone along with you to study together?) and dive deeper into God’s word this fall.

Buy 1–3 John (Knowing the Bible):

Pastor, fulfill YOUR ministry

Get wisdom encouragement for Spurgeon in your inbox every week. Subscribe to the The Pastor’s Note newsletter for free.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

A dear brother said to me, “I wish you would go abroad, and preach the Word;” and he urged as a reason that my people would appreciate me better if they had less of me. I replied that I did not want my people to appreciate me any more, for they go already as far in that direction as would be safe, and I assured him that I should stop at home for fear they should appreciate me more.

I might have rambled all the world over, and done great good, if that had been my calling; but the day will declare whether I have not been more in the path of duty and real usefulness by fostering Institutions at home, and scattering the Word by my printed sermons far more widely than I could have done with my voice. Be it so or not, brethren, when you know which part of the Lord’s work he has committed to you, give your whole soul to it.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)

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

There will be time enough for you to ask all proper and right questions, and to have them answered, when you have sought and found the Savior. But, meanwhile, your immortal soul is in jeopardy, so attend to that first of all. A man who is sinking in the sea is mad if he says, “I won’t lay hold of that rope until I understand all about astronomy.” A man in a burning house does not need to trouble his head about geology; his first business is to get to the fire escape. He can leave his study of geology until tomorrow.

So, you unconverted ones should “seek first his kingdom and righteousness,” and all other things you need shall be added unto you (Matt 6:33).

THANKS FOR READING

Brothers,

Whether or not you can share Spurgeon’s sentiment of feeling overly-appreciated in your own congregation, we have an important reminder here to remain faithful where the Lord has placed us.

The grass is always greener on the other side, but many problems in pastoral ministry are solved by waiting it out and refusing to jump-fence to another pasture.

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
Preaching Pastor of Pillar Church of Washington DC

Pray with Spurgeon: Saved by grace! What a glorious joy!

Get a prayer from Spurgeon in your inbox every day. Subscribe to the Pray with Spurgeon newsletter for free.

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O Lord, give to all who have believed in you a sense of perfect deliverance from sin. Let us not be saying, “I know that I shall be justified in the Day of Judgement.” Let us not postpone that blessing, but may we enjoy it now; for truly if you are the Resurrection so that we may believe in you now, surely you are our justification to be accepted and rejoiced in now? And we do accept you—Jesus. Your blood is our cleansing; your righteousness is our clothing. We stand accepted in the Beloved, all of us who have believed in your holy name. Let your people enjoy now that sweet peace which comes of being justified by faith.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” (1 John 1:4)

What an evidence of our Savior’s deep attachment to his people that he is not content with having made their ultimate salvation sure, but he is anxious concerning their present state of mind! He delights that his people should not only be safe, but happy; not merely saved, but rejoicing in his salvation.

Hear this, people of God! The object of the revelation of Jesus Christ is that you may have joy—indeed, that you may have a heart full of joy, and that you may know what full joy means. Here below, we get but drops and dashes of joy unless we are brought into fellowship with God through Jesus Christ; then, we have the very joy of God in our souls. Oh, the delight of it! Oh, that you could all know it to the full!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Understanding Christianity’s Alternatives (And Why They’re Not Enough)*

Part of forming a robust Christian worldview is to understand its alternatives — the other stories and systems that mankind has constructed to explain the world and everything in it.

We don’t need to run from these alternatives, because we’re confident in the truth of Scripture.

And when we look hard at these alternatives, what we find is that they don’t really work out or effectively make sense of reality.

This is one of the things I love about Learn the Gospel by Tony Payne, a new book from Matthias Media.

This book unpacks the message of Jesus in a simple, straightforward, interactive way that will boost your confidence in the Christian worldview.

And along the way, the author addresses some common alternatives to Christianity, and shows how the truth of Scripture is better in every way.

Some of the alternatives addressed in the book are materialism (matter is all there is), mysticism, deism, the idea that all people are basically good, a God who won’t punish sin because he loves, and more. (These are dangerous ideas, and we need to have a firm grasp on how to address them!)

Learn the Gospel is a really helpful resource. I hope you’ll check it out and buy a copy today.

THIS MONTH ONLY, if you buy one or more copies of Learn the Gospel, you’ll also receive FIVE FREE copies of The Essential Jesus to share with others.

(The Essential Jesus helps non-Christians read, understand, and apply the complete text of Luke’s Gospel.)

Both of these books are INCREDIBLE resources for discipleship. I really hope you’ll grab a copy of Learn the Gospel today.

Buy Learn the Gospel from Matthias Media and receive five free copies of The Essential Jesus.

Pray with Spurgeon: Jesus is coming soon (and patiently waiting now)

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh for the Kingdom and the coming! Oh that Christ himself would soon appear! But if in mercy he tarries until men repent, then come, divine Spirit, and lead them to repentance, and let the elect of God be gathered together out from among the sons of men, and the divine purpose be accomplished, and let Jesus see of the fruit of his work. Our heart asks infinitely better than our lips can do. Oh hear us for Jesus’ sake.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“… what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3)

Sin, as it banished man from Eden, banished man from God, and from that time our face has been turned from the Most High, and his face has been turned from us—we have hated God, and God has been angry with us every day. Christ came into the world to restore to us our lost patrimony. It was the great object of his wondrous sacrifice to put us into a position that should be equal and even superior to that which we occupied in Adam before the fall.

And as he has already restored to us many things that we lost, so among the rest—fellowship with God. Those who have by his grace believed, and have been washed by the precious blood, have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord; they are “no longer strangers and foreigners, but … fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19), and they have access with boldness into this grace in which we stand.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

God’s grace will grow you. Here’s a practical guide.

Today we prayed, looking forward to the day that Jesus would come back to bring us home. While we are waiting for that day, we must not sit back comfortably, but we should STRIVE to root out sin, prepare ourselves for heaven, and become more like Christ. But here’s the thing: we can’t grow in godliness without God’s help.

God didn’t just start your salvation, he’s going to complete it as well. And the path to true growth is not just trying harder, but by pressing deeper into the truths of God’s saving, sanctifying grace.

That’s the point of Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners by Dane Ortlund. In this book, Dane (author of Gentle and Lowly) offers a beautiful, biblical picture of what it looks like to actually grow in godliness. The teaching is incredibly practical and will leave you amazed at the wonder of God’s grace to change you.

I hope you’ll grab a copy of Deeper and use it to slay sin in your life, by God’s grace.

Buy Deeper: