ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)
The new birth is the mysterious point in all religion. If you preach anything else except the new birth you will always get on well with your hearers; but if you insist that in order to enter heaven there must be a radical change, though this is the doctrine of the Scripture, it is so unpalatable to mankind in general that you will scarcely get them to listen.
Ah! Now ye turn away if I begin to tell you, that “except ye be born of water and of the Spirit, ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” If I tell you that there must be a regenerating influence exerted upon your minds by the power of the Holy Ghost, then I know ye will say “it is enthusiasm.” Ah! but it is the enthusiasm of the Bible. There I stand; by this I will be judged. If the Bible does not say we must be born again, then I give it up; but if it does then, sirs, do not distrust that truth on which your salvation hangs.
SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)
Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe Christian contentment.
I have heard of some good old woman in a cottage, who had nothing but a piece of bread and a little water, and lifting up her hands, she said, as a blessing, “What! all this, and Christ too?” It is “all this,” compared with what we deserve.
PRAYER FOR PASTORS
This week, please pray for Pastor Alma Garcia from Templo Linaje Escogido in El Paso, Texas.
- Wisdom to fund raise money to buy our own church building.
- Grace and wisdom from our Lord to lead his children with love.
- For our Lord to continue providing for rent and utility bills.
Can we pray for you? Click here to submit prayer requests for a future newsletter.