Sermon Shorts from Spurgeon — Sermon 28: The Church of Christ

Well, we have examined this rich promise; we as a church are looking at it; we are saying, “Is that ours?” I think most of the members will say, “It is; for God has poured out upon us showers of blessing in their season.” Well, then, if the promise is ours, the precept is ours, as much as the promise. Ought we not to ask God to continue to make us a blessing? Some say I did so-and-so when I was a young man; but supposing you are fifty, you are not an old man now. Is there not something you can do? It is all very well to talk about what you have done; but what are you doing now? I know what it is with some of you; you shined brightly once, but your candle has not been snuffed lately, and so it does not shine so well. May God take away some of the worldly cares, and snuff the candles a little! You know there were snuffers and snuffer-trays provided in the temple for all the candles, but no extinguishers; and if there should be a poor candle here this morning, with a terrific snuff, that has not given a light for a long while, you will have no extinguisher from me, but I hope you will always have a snuffing. I thought the first time when I came to the lamps this morning it would be to snuff them. That has been the intention of my sermon—to snuff you a little—to set you to work for Jesus Christ. O Zion, shake thyself from the dust! O Christian, raise thyself from thy slumbers! Warrior, put on thy armor! Soldier, grasp thy sword! The captain sounds the alarm of war. O sluggard! why sleepest thou? O heir of heaven, has not Jesus done so much for thee, that thou shouldst live to him? O beloved brethren, purchased with redeeming mercies, girt about with loving-kindness and with tenderness, “Now for a shout of sacred joy.” and after that, to the battle!

From the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume 1, Sermon 28 by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Sermon Shorts from Spurgeon – Sermon 13: Consolation Proportionate to Spiritual Sufferings

As the sufferings of Christ abound in us so the consolations of Christ abound. Here is a blessed proportion. God always keeps a pair of scales—in this side he puts his people’s trials and in that he puts their consolations. When the scale of trial is nearly empty, you will always find the scale of consolation in nearly the same condition; and when the scale of trials is full, you will find the scale of consolation just as heavy for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, even so shall consolation abound by Christ. This is a matter of pure experience. Some of you do not know anything at all about it. You are not Christians, you are not born again, you are not converted; ye are unregenerate, and, therefore, ye have never realized this wonderful proportion between the sufferings and the consolations of a child of God. Oh! it is mysterious that, when the black clouds gather most, the light within us is always the brightest. When the night lowers and the tempest is coming on, the heavenly captain is always closest to his crew. It is a blessed thing, when we are most cast down, then it is that we are most lifted up by the consolations of Christ.

From the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume 1, Sermon 13 by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

https://ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/sermons01/sermons01.xii.html

God’s Promises to Abraham

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

In this passage God institutes a covenant with Abraham.  This covenant has three major promises and is important not only for the nation of Israel, but for the human race as a whole. Continue reading

Do You Have a Heart for God?

When the Lord brought the children of Israel to the Promised Land, Moses reminded them of their commitments to Him before they crossed over to inhabit the land.  The Israelites had agreed to keep the Lord’s commandments and reaffirmed that promise.

Deuteronomy 5:27 Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.

The Lord, Who knew their hearts, expressed His desire that they would indeed have a heart for Him to do all that they had committed.

Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

God knew that His way was best.  His desire was that the Israelites experience the best He had to offer (“that it might be well with them”).  The blessings they could experience would pass on to their posterity as well (“and with their children for ever”).  However, He knew that their heart was not in the right place.  As history shows, they would disobey Him and receive just recompense for their sin.

The same is true with us.  God created life and He knows how life is best lived.  Why do we not trust Him in this?  God loves us as a parent loves his child.  He wants the best for us, but like wayward children, we all to often refuse to give up our own selfish desires.  We need to have a heart for God and obey Him.  Then we can expect His blessing upon our lives.

The Blessedness of Godliness

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

These verses have a simple, yet profound message.  First, stay away from ungodliness (vs. 1).  Second, delight in God’s Word (vs. 2).  Third, enjoy the benefits that right living brings (vs. 3). Continue reading