Character of Jesus

Open Their Eyes to See the Enemy

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, Sovereignty of God 7 Comments

And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw. – 2 Kings 6:17

For certain of our friends, we pray that their eyes may be opened to see the enemy of their souls under the many disguises which he assumes. We fear that many are ignorant of his devices. Young men, especially, are too apt to mistake the great enemy for a friend. They believe his false and flattering words and are seduced to ruin. He holds forth to them the sparkling cup; but in its beaded bubbles death is lurking. He talks of “pleasure”; but in the lusts of the flesh the pleasure is a shadow, and misery is the substance. He wears the mask of prudence and admonishes young men to “mind the main chance” and leave religion till they have made their fortunes; but that gain which comes of thrusting God aside will prove to be an everlasting loss. The devil as a serpent does more mischief than as a roaring lion. If we had to meet the devil, and knew him to be what he is, we might far more easily conquer him; but we have to deal with him disguised as an angel of light, and here is the need of a hundred eyes, each one of them opened by God, that we may see. Even worse than this is the fact that, at times, he does not meet us at all, but he undermines our path; he digs pits for our feet; he shoots his arrows from afar or sends forth a pestilence which walks in darkness. Then have we need of a better sight than nature gives. I would pray for the young man who is just leaving home to go into the world, “O Lord, open the eyes of the young man, that he may see!” May he be able to detect the falsehood which may hide itself beneath the truth; the meanness which may wrap itself about with pride; the folly which may robe itself in learning; the sin which may dress itself in the raiment of pleasure! I would not have you taken, like birds, in a snare…God grant that his eyes may be opened to see sin as sin, and to see that evil never can be good, and a lie never can be true, and rebellion against our God can never be the way to happiness! ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2215.cfm

Prayer for Spiritual Sight

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, Sovereignty of God 2 Comments

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?.. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. – 2 Kings 6:15,17

The young man was at that time in the peculiar condition of seeing, and yet not seeing. He saw the enemy surrounding the city, but not the greater host of the Lord’s angels who protected the man of God. Looking over the little walls of Dothan, he observed all the country round about to be occupied by the horses and chariots of the king of Syria; and he cried, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?” He could see the danger, but he could not see the deliverance; and therefore, the prophet lifted up his heart to heaven, and said, “O Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see!” Elisha reckons his servant’s natural sight as not seeing and regards the vision which detects the invisible as the only true sight. Perhaps I am addressing some, at this time, who are very friendly to the cause of God, and are even connected with it by relationship or occupation; they cheerfully lend a hand at any time in holy service so far as they can, and they wish prosperity to the cause of true religion. Yet their eyes have not been opened to see spiritual things; or, at least, not sufficiently opened to see the gracious and divine side of them. They see enough to perceive that they are in danger from a great enemy. They perceive that it is no easy thing to fight the battle of life: in the prospect of it they cry, “How shall we do?” They perceive that it is a difficult thing for a man to stand up for holiness, for truth, for integrity, for purity, and to maintain a gracious character throughout the whole of life. They seem to themselves to be environed with opposing forces in their business, in their temperament, in their companionships, and perhaps in their families. As for the cause of godliness, it seems hemmed in by adversaries; and they ask-What is to be done? Is not the matter desperate? Might it not be as well to surrender at once? For any such timid one I would present to God the prayer of Elisha: “O Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see!” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2215.cfm

Take Courage

Sherry Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises 4 Comments

“If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” – John 15:20

I have been persecuted and ill-treated, because I love Christ. I am mocked, and laughed at, and despised. I try to bear it, but I really cannot. A man will be a man. Tread upon a worm and he will turn upon you. “My patience altogether fails me. I am in such a peculiar position that it is of no use to advise me to have patience, for patience I cannot have; my enemies are slandering me, and I do not know what to do.” What shall we say to that poor man? How shall we give him patience? What shall we preach to him? You have heard what he has to say about himself. How shall we comfort him under this great trial? If we suffered the same, what should we wish some friend to say to us? Shall we tell him that other persons have borne as much? He will say, “Miserable comforters are ye all!” No, I will tell him, “Brother, you are persecuted; but remember the words of Jesus Christ, how He spoke unto us, and said, ‘Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.” My brother! think of Him, who, when He died, prayed for His murderers, and said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” All you have to bear, is as nothing compared with His mighty sufferings. Take courage; face it again like a man; never say die. Let not your patience be gone; take up your cross daily and follow Christ. Let Him be your motto; set Him before your eyes. And now, receiving this, hear what the man will say. He tells you at once— “Hail, persecution, welcome shame! Disgrace for Jesus shall be my honor, and scorn shall be my highest glory.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

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By the Will of God

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, Sovereignty of God Leave a comment

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers… – Acts 13:36

Did David serve his generation by the will of God; or did he fall asleep by the will of God? …Over both his life and his death may be written the words, “By the will of God.” Oh, that we may all so live, that even in death we may serve our generation; may it be true of us that “whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord’s”! Thus, “the will of God” shall be done both in our service and in our sleep. David is an example of what will befall those who know Christ, at the end of their service. He did not go to sleep till his work was done. “David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep.” Do not want to die till you have done your work. When brethren say, “Oh, I wish I could go to heaven! Oh, when shall I get home?” they remind me of a man who, when he begins work on Monday, says, “I wish it was Saturday night.” We do not want servants like that, nor does God either. Be willing to live for two hundred and fifty years, if God wills it. Be willing to live until strength fails you, if God wills it; you can still bear your dying testimony to the Lord’s faithful and unchanging love. Do not be in a hurry to go home to heaven. Do not want to go to sleep till you also have served your generation well. When David had served his generation, he fell on sleep. We are told that, in the early days of Christianity, when believers were falling asleep in Jesus, their friends did not bid them “good-bye,” but “good night.” So, we say, in the words of that beautiful hymn-

“Sleep on beloved, sleep, and take thy rest;
Lay down thy head upon thy Saviour’s breast:
We love thee well; but Jesus loves thee best-
Good-night! Good-night! Good-night!

~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2243.cfm

Train Up the Children to Serve the Lord

Sherry Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, salvation Leave a comment

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6

Young Christians do become the best Christians. Early piety is usually eminent piety; so, seek to catch the children while they are young, and train them for the Lord, then they will be ready to serve their generation in their turn. I wish Christians would consider more seriously how the children ought to be looked after by the church. I read the other day of a boy who wished to join in membership with the people of God. His father said that he was too young and kept him back. He was big enough, however, to be sent out to fold the sheep one night. When he came in, his father said, “Jack, have you folded the sheep?” “Yes,” he said; “I folded all the sheep,” laying great stress on the last word. “And did you put the lambs in?” asked his father. “No,” he replied, “I left the lambs outside; they were too young to go in.” “Oh, boy!” said the father; “you know more than I do, after all; they were the very ones that needed most to be folded. You may go and see the minister about joining the church as soon as you like.” If any believers in Christ need specially to be taken into the church, it is those who have come to Jesus in their youth. I pray you, serve your generation by giving the children and young people your most loving attention and care.

Look after the children of this generation for the dangers around them at the present time are almost innumerable…Serve your generation by warning them of their danger and trying to keep them free from the evils by which they are surrounded. Satan gets the advantage over many a young life by causing even right things to be put to wrong uses; and in all sorts of ways, he lays traps for young people. Oh, parents and teachers, do try to give your boys a backbone of moral honesty! Try to show them that they have not come into this world merely to please themselves; that there is something better to be done than that. Do not rest till you have led them to the Saviour, for no boy is safe until he is converted. No girl is safe in the streets of this city till she has a new heart and a right spirit. The times are perilous; yet if we speak a word of warning… ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2243.cfm

Look After the Children

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, salvation, Sovereignty of God Leave a comment

But Jesus called them to Him, saying, “Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” – Luke 18:16

The mass of people in London go to no place of worship now; the old habit of attending church or chapel seems to have been given up; but the people will still let the children go to Sunday-school, even if they do it from no better motive than that of getting them out of the way in the afternoon, or in order that the house may be quiet without them. Anyhow, if you open a school anywhere in London, you can quickly get it filled with children. If you cannot do one thing, do another. If you cannot reach the fathers and the mothers, though you should earnestly try to get at them, yet, if you can reach the children. Take care that you lose no opportunity of teaching them the things of God…While yet the clay is soft, mould it for God. May the Lord Himself help you, dear Sunday-school teachers, and others who labour amongst the children, to do your work right well! Nobly are you serving your own generation, and the generation to follow. This is the work that lies nearest to you; seek to accomplish it; and “whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” …The salvation of the children ought to be sought with double diligence, for they will last the longest. If a man of sixty or seventy is converted, he will have only a short time for serving God here; for he will soon be gone. If a child is converted, a long life of usefulness may enrich the church of God. Remember, too, that those who are converted when children usually make the best saints. Therefore, look after the children. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2243.cfm

Serve the Lord as David Served Him

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, Sovereignty of God Leave a comment

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption. – Acts 13:36

What is it to serve our generation? I answer, it is to perform the common duties of life as David did. David was the son of a farmer, a sheep-owner, and he took first of all to the keeping of the sheep. Many young men do not like to do the common work of their own father’s business. You do not want to drudge, you say, you want to be a king. Well, there are not many openings in that line of business; and I shall not recommend anyone to be eager to enter them if there were. “Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not.” Before David swayed the sceptre, he grasped the shepherd’s crook. He that at home cannot or will not undertake ordinary duties, will not be likely to serve his age…In the midst of the routine of daily life, we should, by diligence in duty, prepare for whatever may be our future opportunity, waiting patiently until it comes. Look at David’s occasion of becoming famous. He never sought it. He did not go up and down among his sheep, sighing and crying, “Oh, that I could get away from this dull business of looking after these flocks! My brothers have gone to the camp; they will get on as soldiers; but here am I, buried among these rocks, to look after these poor beasts.” He was wiser than that; he quietly waited God’s time. That is always a wise thing to do. If you are to serve God, wait till he calls you to do His work; He knows where to find you when He wants you; you need not advertise yourself to His omniscience…If you want to serve the church and serve the age, beloved friend, be wide awake when the occasion comes. Jump into the saddle when the horse is at your door; and God will bless you if you are on the look-out for opportunities of serving Him. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2243.cfm