May They See the Way of Salvation

August 10, 2024August 3, 2024Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, salvation, Sovereignty of God, the unbelieving life Leave a comment

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” – Acts 16:31

And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw… – 2 Kings 6:17

When a man begins to see his great enemy, and his best Friend, we may pray, “Lord, open his eyes to see the way of salvation through the appointed Savior.” There is no seeing the Lord Jesus but by His own light. We look to Him with a look which comes from Him. I have tried to explain salvation to people many a time, in simple words and figures; but there is a great deal more wanted than an explanation. It is right to be very plain; but more is needed than a clear statement. No matter how bright the candle, a blind man sees none the better. I continually pray, “Lord, open my mouth”; but I perceive that I must also pray, “Lord, open men’s eyes!” Until God opens a man’s eyes, he will not see what faith means, nor what atonement means, nor what regeneration means. That which is plain as a pikestaff to a seeing man is invisible to the blind. “Believe, and live”; what can be plainer? Yet no man understands it till God gives grace to perceive His meaning. It is our duty, as preachers, to put the gospel as plainly as possible; but we cannot give a man spiritual understanding. We declare, in baldest and boldest terms, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”; but men ask, like simpletons, “What do you mean?” We cry, “Look unto Jesus, and live”; but when our explainings are over, we learn that they have mistaken our meaning, and are still looking to themselves, and turning their backs on the Lord Jesus. To believe, or trust, is no mystery, but the simplest of all simplicities; and for that very reason men cannot be persuaded to think that we mean what we say, or that God means what He says. We need to pray-“Lord, open their eyes, that they may see; for seeing, they do not see; and hearing, they do not perceive!” Blessed be the Lord, how sweetly they do see it the moment their eyes are opened by His own omnipotent touch! ~ C.H. Spurgeon

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

To See God

August 9, 2024August 9, 2024Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, Sovereignty of God Leave a comment

LORD, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. – 2 Kings 6:17

We want men’s eyes to be opened to see God as everywhere, observing all things. What an opening of the eyes this would be to many! It is a sad but true saying that God may be seen everywhere, but that the most of men see Him nowhere. He is blind indeed who cannot see HIM to whom the sun owes its light. Until our eyes are opened, we rise in the morning, and we fall asleep at night, and we have not seen God all day, although He has been every moment around us and within us. We live from the first day of January to the last day of December, and while the Lord never ceases to see us, we do not even begin to see Him till, by a miracle of grace, He opens our eyes. We dwell in a wonderful world which the great Creator has made, and filled with His own handiwork, and cheered with His own presence, and yet we do not see Him: indeed, there are some so blind as to assert that there is no Creator, and that they cannot perceive any evidence that a supremely wise and mighty Creator exists. Oh, that the Lord Jesus would open the eyes of the willfully blind! Oh, that you, also, who are blinded by forgetfulness rather than by error, may be made to cry with Hagar, “Thou God seest me”; and with Job, “Now mine eye seeth Thee”! If God will graciously convince men of His own divine presence, what a benediction it will be to them, especially to the young in commencing life! A clear perception that the Lord observes all that we do will be a very useful protection in the hour of temptation. When we remember the divine eye, we shall cry, like Joseph, “How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” To see yourself is well; but to see God is better. Let us pray, “O Lord, open the young man’s eyes, that he may see THEE!” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

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

Open Their Eyes to See the Enemy

August 8, 2024August 3, 2024Sherry 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

August 7, 2024August 7, 2024Sherry 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

August 6, 2024August 3, 2024Sherry 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

August 5, 2024July 27, 2024Sherry 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