prayer

The Silenced Archers

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

Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob… -Genesis 49:22-24

They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water…-Judges 5:11

It seems that archers and wells frequently go together. It was the blessing of Joseph-“Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall.” But what next? “The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him.” And so in the text: here are wells, but there is the noise of archers, which greatly disturbs those who go to draw water. Brethren and sisters-I think you know, but I will refresh your memories-you know what the noise of archers has been to you when you have tried to draw water. Years ago, with some of us, our sins were the archers that shot at us when we would fain come to Christ and drink of His salvation. When we bowed the knee in prayer, a fiery arrow would dart into our hearts-“How dare you pray? God heareth not sinners!” When we read the word of God, another barbed shaft would be shot against us-“What hast thou to do with God’s word? There can be no promise there for such as thou art. Knowest thou not that thou art a condemned sinner, and that book curses thee solemnly? Turn away from it, of what service can it be to thee?”

Ah! but beloved, you are delivered from the noise of archers now; your sins which are many, are forgiven you; now you can come to Jesus, now you can come to the ordinances, now you can read the Bible, now you can hear the word, and you find that God’s paths drop fatness… for you are accepted in the Beloved, justified by faith, and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0763.cfm

The Well of Refreshment

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, The Father, The Holy Spirit 1 Comment

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. -Hebrews 4:16

What a well that is to the Christian when he can draw nigh unto God with a true heart! It is a glorious thing to have such a well as that in the family, where, in prayer with the children, you can bring all the necessities of the household before God, and mention each child if you will, and all the troubles of the past, or all the expected difficulties of the coming day. Let us never give up that well. But, as for private prayer, brethren, this world were drear indeed if we could not pour out our sorrows into our Father’s ear. This is the poor man’s riches; this is the sick man’s medicine; this is the faint man’s cordial; this is the weak one’s strength; this is the ignorant man’s school; this is the strong man’s confidence. Neglect prayer, and you will soon discover that all your spiritual powers wax weak; but be much in supplication-and he that is mighty on his knees, is mighty everywhere. He that looketh God in the face every morning, will never fear the face of man; and he who looketh Christ in the face each evening, may well close his eyes in sweet repose, feeling that, if he should never wake to this world of care, he shall wake up in the likeness of his Lord. Oh, yes! the mercy seat is a well of refreshment indeed! Over and above this, every form of fellowship with Jesus, wrought in us by the Spirit, is a well of salvation…Beloved, we are no strangers to Jesus Christ, blessed be His name, and He is no stranger to us; we have seen Him through the lattices of the ordinances; we have found the means of grace to be like windows of agate and gates of carbuncle, through which we have beheld Him; we have Him in our hearts full often, He embraces our soul-we carry the fire of His love flaming on the altar of our affections. He is our dear companion, our ever present help in time of trouble.~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0763.cfm

Give Christ Your Heart

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, salvation 1 Comment

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. -Romans 10:9

A missionary was preaching to the Maori tribe of the New Zealanders. He had been telling them of the suffering love of Christ, how He had poured forth His soul unto death for them; and as he concluded, the hills rung to the thrilling question-“Is it nothing to any who pass by? Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto His?” Then stood forth a plumed and painted chief, the scarred warrior of a thousand fights, and as his lips quivered with suppressed emotion, he spoke. “And did the Son of the Highest suffer all this for us men? Then the Indian chief would like to offer him some poor return for his great love. Would the Son of God deign to accept the Indian’s hunting dog? Swift of foot and keen of scent the tribe has not such another, and he has been to the Indian as a friend.” But the missionary told him that the Son of God had need of no such gifts as these. Thinking he had mistaken the gift he resumed-“Yet perchance He would accept the Indian’s rifle? Unerring of aim, the chief cannot replace it.” Again the missionary shook his head. For a moment the chief paused; then as a new thought struck him, suddenly despoiling himself of his striped blanket he cried with childlike earnestness, “Perhaps He who had not where to lay His head will yet accept the chieftain’s blanket. The poor Indian will be cold without it, yet it is offered joyfully.” Touched by love’s persistency, the missionary tried to explain to him the real nature of the Son of God; that it was not men’s gifts but men’s hearts that He yearned for. For a moment a cloud of grief darkened the granite features of the old chief; then as the true nature of the Son of God slowly dawned upon him, casting aside his blanket and rifle he clasped his hands, and looking right up into the blue sky, his face beaming with joy, he exclaimed-“Perhaps the Son of the Blessed One will deign to accept the poor Indian himself!”

Is that what you say this morning? You would give Christ this, and that, and the other. Soul, give Him your heart. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0400.cfm

Thou Hast Said He Would Heal You

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, salvation 1 Comment

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. -Hosea 6:1

The wounds which you now feel He made Himself, and if He is willing to heal any wounds, how much more those that He has Himself made…The text I read as a promise. It looks at first sight as if it were spoken by man, and so it is; but then inasmuch as it is put in God’s book as the utterance of God’s inspired prophet, it is a part of God’s word, and it is warranted to be most true. “He hath torn and He will heal.” Go and put your finger on this text and say, “Lord, Thou hast torn me, and it is written in Thy word, ‘He will heal us;'”

“Lord, I know Thou canst not lie,
Heal my soul or else I die.”

Put you your finger on the text-“He will bind us up.” Say, “Lord, I do not deserve it; I deserve only to perish, but then Thou hast said Thou wilt do it, be as good as Thy word. Lord, here is a poor sinner near despair, he comes to Thee, bind up his broken heart; give him peace;”-and soul, the everlasting hills shall bow, the hoary deep shall itself be burned up, and earth’s foundation shall be removed, but God’s word shall never pass away, nor shall His promise fail in one single case. Only believe the promise; receive the promise, and this very day, poor broken heart, He will heal thy wounds, and thou shalt have joy and peace in believing through Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0400.cfm

You Will Rejoice!

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, salvation 1 Comment

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. – John 16:22

Yes, beloved, He can, at this moment, turn your sorrows into joys. If you have a great lump of sorrow, you will have a great lump of joy, for He turns it all into joy. One touch of His finger can turn the granite stones into gold; bring them to His feet; ask Him to do it, and you shall be rich in joy.  Well, if it is not done at once, it will be done before long. It sometimes takes a little time for a sorrow to turn into a joy. It is rather an odd figure of Cowper’s, but it is a true one: The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.

It takes a little time for our bitters to bloom out into sweetness, but they will. If you are praying for your dear child, praying for his conversion but do not see it, yet pray on, for your sorrow will be turned into joy. If you are in great trouble about your husband, or your brother, or your friend, whose conversion you are seeking, strive on still, for it will come. One day you shall have the joy of your heart, and your sorrow shall be turned into joy. And that trial you are laboring under just now — don’t faint under it; wait a little. It is a rough wind, but it is blowing you towards the port. It is a rough wave, but it is washing you on to the rock. It is not today that you will see it, nor tomorrow; but afterwards, and by-and-bye it will bring forth the comfortable fruits of righteousness, and you will rejoice. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.gracegems.org/Spurgeon/from_sorrow_to_joy.htm

 

A Little While

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises 5 Comments

In a little while you will see Me no longer, and then after a little while you will see Me…your sorrow shall be turned into joy. – John 16:17,20

When things are only temporary, we put up with them. “A little while ” — it takes off the edge of sorrow. If it be but a minute, and then afterwards there shall be never-ending blessing coming out of it, oh, then we glory in the tribulation, and count it not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. Afflicted child of God, I commend to you those three words, “a little while.” I beseech you to roll them under your tongue as a sweet morsel when your mouth is filled with the wormwood of sorrow. “A little while,” and after that little while is over then it shall be “forever with the Lord.” The other reflection which He gave them for their comfort is that which is furnished by our text, “Your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” May God the Spirit give us comfort while we think over these words.

And first, brethren, this language was strictly true with regard to the remarkable sorrow which was then coming upon them when our Lord spoke. You know the chapter. The Lord had been telling them of His death. They had been sitting around the table, and He had revealed to them the fact that He was about to be delivered into the hands of wicked men and be crucified, and that this would make them weep and lament; but concerning this He says, “Your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” We have also another sorrow coming out of that, namely, the sorrow that our risen Lord has gone away from us, has risen from Mount Olive and left His Church a widow; yet that sorrow, too, is turned into joy. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.gracegems.org/Spurgeon/from_sorrow_to_joy.htm

 

 

From Prayer to Remedy

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, salvation 1 Comment

And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: – Exodus 15:24,25

The people complained to Moses; Moses took the complaint to his Master. In all trials, the surest way to a remedy is prayer. In heavenly pharmacy, prayer is a catholicon; it healeth all things. Prayer, which overcomes heaven, will certainly never be overmatched on earth. Neither men nor devils can stand against prayer: it smites them hip and thigh like another Samson. The bow of prayer returns not empty; it is swifter than an eagle, it is stronger than a lion. Take thy case to God, O heir of trouble; unroll Rabshakeh’s letter before the Most High, and the Lord will silence his revilings. Half the work is done when it is brought before God in supplication.

As soon as we have a prayer God has a remedy. The remedy is near at hand; but we do not perceive it till it is shown us. “The Lord showed him a tree.” The tree had been growing for years on purpose to be used. God has a remedy for all our troubles before they happen to us. A delightful employment it is to notice how God forestalls Himself; how long before we reach the encampment, if there be the bitter well, there is also the healing tree. All is ready between here and heaven. He that has gone to prepare a place for us by His presence, has prepared the way to that place for us by His providence…It is always a blessing to remember that for every affliction there is a promise in the word of God; a promise which meets the case, and was made on purpose for it. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0987.cfm