Category: Pray with Spurgeon

Weekend Edition: May Jesus be glorified at Christmas

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PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (BY SPURGEON)

O Jesus, Son of the Highest, we know that the truth is powerful, because you are the soul of it—the very essence of it. Put your life into it, we pray. May the Eternal Spirit go with every word which God-sent ministers shall proclaim this weekend on Christmas Eve and Christmas, and may the Lord grant that as the mists fly before the sun, and the clouds before the wind, so error and superstition may be driven away by the rising of the Sun of Righteousness in all the glory of his brightness.

Amen.

SEMINARY SCHOLARSHIPS AND MORE

Thanks to Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College for sponsoring the Weekend Edition.

Right now, Midwestern is hosting their annual 12 days of Christmas giveaway. Every day from Dec. 13–24, they are giving away some incredible prizes to any prospective student who submits an application.

Highlights include the Preaching the Word commentary set, a new MacBook, and a $5,000 scholarship for seminary.

Start (or finish) your application today and be entered to win.

WEEKEND LONG READ (SERMON BY SPURGEON)

A Visit to Bethlehem

Editor’s Note: This is one of my all-time favorite Spurgeon sermons. In this sermon, he looks at the Christmas story from a number of different angles and perspectives to help us understand the incredible good news that had arrived in the birth of this child.

Read the full sermon from the Spurgeon Center for Biblical Preaching at Midwestern Seminary.

A FREE RESOURCE FROM MIDWESTERN

Have Yourself A Subversive Little Christmas

The more we glam up Christmas, the more the sacred is covered up by surface glamour. True beauty, meaning, and transcendence can be lost if we are desensitized by glitzy distractions.

The biblical Christmas story by contrast is less suited for cultural hype and marketing agendas. It consistently invites us to peer beneath the surface. At Christmas, God hides the best gifts in plain sight. He wraps them in sacred simplicity.

Read the full list on For the Church

PREPARE FOR MINISTRY AT MIDWESTERN

What Jesus purchased is precious. We’ve made it our purpose. Midwestern Seminary exists for the Church, and we serve the church by biblically educating God-called men and women to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ. If you’re called to serve the church, train with us, for the Church.

Pray with Spurgeon: May all people seek healing from Jesus

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We cannot leave off our prayer when we have prayed for your people, though we have asked large things; we want you to look among the thousands and millions round about us who do not know you. Lord, look on the masses who go nowhere to worship. Have pity upon them; Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. Give a desire to hear your Word. Send upon the people some desire after their God.

O Lord take sinners in hand yourself. Oh, come and reach obstinate, stubborn minds; let the careless and the frivolous begin to think upon eternal things. May there be an uneasiness of heart, a sticking of the arrows of God in their loins, and may they seek the great physician and find healing this very day. Ah! Lord, you say “Today, if ye will hear his voice,” and we take up the echo. Save men today, even today. Bring them your Spirit in power that they may be willing to rest in Christ. Lord hear, forgive, accept and bless, for Jesus’ sake.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.’” (Matthew 2:1–2)

When wise men seek our king they are wise indeed. These were devout men, to whom the stars spoke of God. An unusual luminary was understood by them to indicate the birth of the coming man for whom many in all lands were looking. Stars might guide us if we were willing to be led. Lord Jesus, make everything speak to me concerning you, and may I be truly led till I find you!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift Idea for Christian Men

I’m really hoping that my new resource, The God Centered Husband One-Year Journal will help a lot of Christian men grow as husbands in 2024.

This hands-on resource gives men a blank page to fill out every week to help them consider what burdens their wife will have this week and how they can help her.

It also has a lot of bonus features, like 52 conversation starters for couples, a one-year Bible reading plan, weekly devotionals to remind you of Jesus’ love for imperfect husbands.

I hope you’ll grab one for yourself (your wife will thank you later!)

And if you aren’t a husband, I hope you’ll buy copies for all of the married Christian men on your shopping list.

I think this resource will really make a difference in a lot of marriages, so I hope you’ll grab a copy today!

Buy The God Centered Husband One-Year Journal on Amazon (Paperback edition)

Pray with Spurgeon: Father, remember your children

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Remember every one that calls you Father. May a Father’s love look on all the children. May the special need of each one be supplied, the special sorrow of each one be assuaged. May we be growing Christians, may we be working Christians, may we be perfected Christians, may we come to the fullness of the stature of men in Christ Jesus.

Lord Jesus, you are a great pillar; in you does all fulness dwell. You began your life with filling the water pots to the full of wine; you filled Simon Peter’s boat until it began to sink; you filled the house where your people were met together with the presence of the Holy Spirit; you fill heaven; you will surely fill all things. Fill us, oh, fill us today with all the fullness of God, and make your people thus joyful and strong, and gracious and heavenly!

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.” (Matthew 1:24–25)

Without delay, demur, or reservation, Joseph obeyed. What holy awe filled his heart as he welcomed the favored virgin to his home, to be respectfully and affectionately screened from all evil! What must he have thought when he saw the Son of the highest lying on the bosom of her whom he had espoused! He was happy to render any service to the newborn king.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift Idea for Readers

If you have a book-worm on your Christmas list, I’m confident that they will enjoy Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, a memoir about a refugee family who had to flee from their homeland in Iran because they were persecuted for their Christian faith.

This is an absolutely breathtaking read that I think will bless and benefit every Christian. It is a great testimony of God’s work around the world and a beautiful example of Christian hope. This book will also expose you to the experience of refugees and persecuted Christians, filling you with compassion.

Nayeri writes from the perspective of his 12-year-old self, and this book is an absolutely incredible patchwork of his own experiences, Persian myths, and cultural analysis.

I know this book will bless you, so I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy Everything Sad is Untrue:

Pray with Spurgeon: Our only strength is God

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, for salvation work throughout these islands and across the sea and in every part of the world, specially in heathen lands. Bring many to Christ’s feet, we pray, everywhere where men are ready to lay down their lives that they may impart the heavenly life of Christ.

Work, Lord, work mightily! Your church cries to you. Oh, leave us not! We can do nothing without you! Our strength is wholly yours! Come to us with great power, and let your Word have free course and be glorified.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated ‘God is with us.’” (Matthew 1:22–23)

It is pleasant to mark that Emmanuel and Jesus mean the same thing. “God with us” is our savior. He is with us as God on purpose to save us. The incarnation of Jesus is our salvation.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift Idea for a Bible Nerd

Honestly, I’ve always had a hard time reading, understanding, and applying Isaiah. So last year, I took time to study this book in-depth. One of the resources that really helped me was Isaiah: God Saves Sinners by Ray Ortlund.

This book is a simple commentary on the entire book of Isaiah. And WOW — it will leave you absolutely amazed at the greatness of God and the wonder of his grace. God really does save sinners!

This book is a little pricier than what I usually recommend ($20–30), but it’s worth every penny, because it will point you to God’s Word and the glories of our Savior.

I know this book will help you better understand Isaiah and will leave you absolutely amazed at the wonder of God’s grace.

Buy Isaiah: God Saves Sinners:

Pray with Spurgeon: Give us joy by saving our friends

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Some are crying to you for the conversion of relatives and friends; this burden they have taken up to follow after Jesus in the cross bearing. Grant them to see the desire of their heart fulfilled. God save our children and children’s children, and if we have unconverted relatives of any kind, the Lord have mercy upon them for Christ’s sake. Give us joy in them—as much joy in them as Christians as we have had sorrow about them as unbelievers.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

The Lord of glory is born the Son of Man, and is named by God’s command, and by man’s mouth, Jesus, the Savior. He is what he is called. He saves us from the punishment and the guilt of sin, and then from the ill effect and evil power of sin. This he does for “his people,” for all who believe in him. It is his nature to do this, as we see in the fact that his very name is Jesus—savior. We still call him by that name, for he still saves us in these latter days. Let us go and tell out his name among men; for he will save others.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift Idea for Young Men

Often, Christian discussions about pornography can be incredibly selfish: this will affect your brain, it will impact your future marriage, it will rob you of your manhood. While each of those things are true, Christian men have more reasons to fight pornography addiction today: be justice demands it.

The Death of Porn: Men of Integrity Building a World of Nobility by Ray Ortlund is an eye-opening resource that will show a young man the real-life cost of pornography use on other people, while also filling him with the hope of Jesus, who came to make all things new and every wrong thing right again.

I know that The Death of Porn will spur on some great conversations between you and the young men in your life.

Buy Death of Porn:

Pray with Spurgeon: God bears our burdens, we bear others’

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Our heavenly Father, we come before you now washed in the blood, wearing the snow white robe of Christ’s righteousness, and we ask you to remember your people. Some are very burdened; lighten the burden or strengthen the shoulder. Some are bowed down with fear; perhaps they mistrust you; forgive the mistrust and give a great increase of faith that they may trust you where they cannot trace you.

The Lord remember any who bear the burden of others. Some cry to you day and night about the sins of the times, about the wanderings of your church. Lord, hear our prayers! We would bear this yoke for you, but help us to bear it without fearing so as to distrust you. May we know that you will take care of your own case and preserve your own truth, and may we therefore be restful about it all.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’” (Matthew 1:19–20)

He could not but feel very anxious, and no doubt he prayed about these things both day and night. God would not leave the honour of the chosen virgin-mother without protection. Soon Joseph had the best of guidance. 

The Lord very graciously removed all suspicion from Joseph’s mind, and thus provided for the honor of the mother, and for the comfort of the holy child. If Jesus is born in our hearts, we shall have trouble; but the Lord will witness that Christ is ours, and he will surely bear us through.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift Idea for a Creative Christian

If you have a friend who is a doodler or a dreamer, they will be really blessed to receive a copy of Draw Near: Your Creative Spiritual Journal by Sophie Killingley. This book is filled with creative-prompts (based on Psalm 103 and Ephesians 1) to encourage deeper spiritual reflection.

It also has extra pages for sermon notes, habit trackers, and blank bullet journal pages.

Buy Draw Near:

Weekend Edition: Give summer weather to our church this winter

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PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (BY SPURGEON)

At this time, great Father, will you visit this church with your great favor; and as you have abounded toward us these many years in blessing, so give us now some new token, some fresh visitation for good. Lord, you have not always given summer weather to the field of nature, but spring comes on and summer returns. Oh give us summer weather as a church. May there be a great revival of religion in all the members, and especially in the minds of such as are growing cold or indifferent to holy things. Wherever there is any laxity of life, any slight holding of precious truth; wherever the world is creeping in with its corroding influences; wherever there is anything of sin, which our eye do not see, but which yours eye detects, be pleased to put it away. Fill the whole church with unity, with love, with life, with power.

Amen.

SEMINARY SCHOLARSHIPS AND MORE

Thanks to Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College for sponsoring the Weekend Edition.

Right now, Midwestern is hosting their annual 12 days of Christmas giveaway. Every day from Dec. 13–24, they are giving away some incredible prizes to any prospective student who submits an application.

Highlights include the Preaching the Word commentary set, a new MacBook, and a $5,000 scholarship for seminary.

Start (or finish) your application today and be entered to win.

WEEKEND LONG READ (SERMON BY SPURGEON)

Holy Work for Christmas

The shepherds need no excuse for making everywhere the announcement of the Saviour’s birth, for what they told they first received from heaven. When heaven entrusts a man with a merciful revelation, he is bound to deliver the good tidings to others. What, keep that a secret whose utterance eternal mercy makes to charm the midnight air?

Beloved, you have heard a voice from heaven — you twice-born men, begotten again unto a lively hope, you have heard the Spirit of God bearing witness of God’s truth with you, and teaching you of heavenly things. You then must keep this Christmas by telling to your fellow-men what God’s own holy Spirit has seen fit to reveal to you.

Read the full sermon from the Spurgeon Center for Biblical Preaching at Midwestern Seminary.

A FREE RESOURCE FROM MIDWESTERN

The 2023 For the Church Book Awards

Every December, FTC highlights a few new books from the past year to highlight and recommend. This is always a valuable list and these books will not disappoint.

Read the full list on For the Church

PREPARE FOR MINISTRY AT MIDWESTERN

What Jesus purchased is precious. We’ve made it our purpose. Midwestern Seminary exists for the Church, and we serve the church by biblically educating God-called men and women to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ. If you’re called to serve the church, train with us, for the Church.

Pray with Spurgeon: God makes us clean so we can draw near

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

May we be consciously passed over by the Spirit of condemnation; may we know in our hearts that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” May we feel the peace giving power of the divine absolution. May we come into your holy presence with our feet washed in the brazen sink, hearing our great High Priest say to us, “You are clean everywhere.” Thus made clean may we draw near to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18)

The Holy Spirit brought in the chosen virgin the body of our Lord. There was no other way of his being born; for had he been of a sinful father, how should he have possessed a sinless nature? He is born of a woman, that he might be human; but not by man, that he might not be sinful. See how the Holy Spirit cooperates in the work of our redemption by preparing the body of our Lord!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift Idea for Your Pastor’s Wife

Being a pastor’s wife is a uniquely challenging work. I’m so thankful for the ways my wife bears my burdens and equips me to serve our church more faithfully.

If you want to bless and encourage the wives of your pastors this Christmas, consider grabbing copies of a new book, Partners in the Gospel: 50 Meditations for Pastors’ and Elders’ Wives by Megan Hill. This book is a collection of 50 short devotionals that will leave readers feeling refreshed and encouraged for the uniquely challenging (and rewarding) work ahead of them.

I hope you’ll consider grabbing a few copies for your pastors’ wives this Christmas.

Buy Partners in the Gospel:

Pray with Spurgeon: May we not look to sin or love it

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We cry to you that we may no more provoke you. We beg you rather to send the serpents among us than to let sin come among us. Oh, that we might have our eye always on the brazen serpent that heals all the bites of evil, but may we not look to sin nor love it. Let not the devices of Balaam and of Balak prevail against us, to lead your people away from their purity. Let us not be defiled with false doctrine or with unholy living, but may we walk as the separated people of God and keep ourselves unspotted from the world.

Lord, we would not grieve your Spirit. Oh! may we never vex you so as to lead you in your wrath to say, “They shall not enter into my rest.” Bear with us still for his dear sake whose blood is upon us. Bear with us still and send not the destroying angel as you did to Egypt, but again fulfill that promise of yours, “When I see the blood I will pass over you.”

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Pay homage to the Son or he will be angry and you will perish in your rebellion, for his anger may ignite at any moment. All who take refuge in him are happy.” (Psalm 2:12)

Note the benediction with which the Psalm closes:—“All who take refuge in him are happy.” Have we a share in this blessedness? Do we trust in him? Our faith may be as slender as a spider’s thread; but if it is real, we are in our measure blessed. The more we trust, the more fully shall we know this blessedness. We may therefore close the psalm with the prayer of the apostles, “Lord, increase our faith.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift Idea for Young Readers

If you know a kid who can’t get enough books — you need to check out the Wingfeather Saga. This is a series of fantasy novels for kids, ages 8–12, by Andrew Peterson.

These are not cheesy, Christian adventures — these are incredible fantasy novels written from a Christian worldview (like a modern day Narnia). These books will keep kids glued and will help them think about Christian themes like redemption.

You can grab the first four books in the Wingfeather series in a great boxset with cool art that will get any kid excited to dive in.

Buy The Wingfeather Saga Box Set:

Pray with Spurgeon: God has shown has grace and held us fast

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, you have been very patient with us. Many have been our provocations, many have been your chastisements, but, “your strokes are fewer than our crimes, and lighter than our guilt.” “You have not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Blessed be your name!

And now fulfill that part of the covenant wherein you have said, “A new heart also I will give thee and a right spirit I will put within you. I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me.” Hold us fast and then we shall hold fast to you. Turn us and we shall be turned; keep us and we shall keep your statutes.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Serve the LORD with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling.” (Psalm 2:11)

Let reverence and humility be mingled with your service. He is a great God, and you are but puny creatures; bend, therefore, in lowly worship, and let a fatherly fear mingle with all your obedience to the great Father of the Ages.

There must always be a holy fear mixed with the Christian’s joy. This is a sacred compound, yielding a sweet smell, and we must see to it that we burn no other upon the altar. Fear, without joy, is torment; and joy, without holy fear, would be presumption.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift Idea for Parents (New and Old)

Parenting can be exhausting. And parenting faithfully is impossible without daily help from the grace of Christ. If you are still looking for a Christmas gift for a parent in your life, check out Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Tripp.

This book is full of encouraging, grace-saturated, biblical truth that will help parents persevere. This is not another parenting book that leaves parents feeling condemned for not doing enough —this is a life-giving book that will leave parents amazed at everything God has done.

This book is a great read for parents in any stage of the journey, so I hope you’ll grab a few copies for friends on your Christmas list this year.

Buy Parenting: