Spurgeon’s Thoughts on Prayer

*devotion is from a Spurgeon morning devotional*

~editor

Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer.

ESV Psalms 66:20

In looking back upon the character of our prayers, if we do it honestly, we shall be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them. There may be some who think their prayers worthy of acceptance-as the Pharisee did; but the true Christian, in a more enlightened retrospect, weeps over his praters, and if he could retrace his steps he would desire to pray more earnestly.

Remember, Christian, how cold thy prayers have been. When in thy closet thou shouldst have wrestled as Jacob did; but instead thereof, thy petitions have been faint and few-far removed from that humble, persevering faith, which cries, I will not let thee go except thou bless me.

Yet, wonderful to say, God has heard these cold prayers of thine, and not only heard, but answered them. Reflect also, how infrequent have been thy prayers, unless thou hast been in trouble, and then thou hast gone often to the mercy-seat: but when deliverance has come, where has been thy constant supplication? Yet, not withstanding thou hast ceased to pray as once thou didst, God has ceased to bless. When thou hast neglected the mercyseat, God has not deserted it, but the bright light of the Shekinah has always been visible between the wings of the cherubim. Oh! it is marvellous that the Lord should regard those intermittent spasms of importunity which come and go with our necessities.

What a God is he thus to hear the praters of those who come to him when they have pressing wants, but neglect him when they have received a mercy; who approach him when they are forced to come, but who almost forget to address him when mercies are plentiful and sorrows are few.

Let his gracious kindness in hearing such prayers touch our hearts, so that we may henceforth be found. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.

blessings,

~Michael

Romans 8:4-8 Part 3: Faith in God Alone

It is Romans 1:17 boldly declares, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” If you view your faith as in how the Word of God declares it to be and you properly view worship to God, not in just the singing part of Sunday morning, but the reading of the Word, the driving to and fro to our jobs, the fellowship with believers and non-believers, the time we spend with our spouse and our children and the way we boldly proclaim the gospel of God in deed and in word.

Romans 8:4-8 Part 3: Faith in God Alone (Notes)

Notes for tonight’s Bible Study.

How i feel!

This video sums up my belief in Jesus Christ! I will always stand for you, no matter the cost!

Romans 8:3-4: The Great Exchange

Last time we met, we broke down the first half of Romans 8:3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. Essentially we answered “What has God done?”, “If the law was not weakened, could the law fulfill what God has accomplished in His gospel?” and “How did the flesh, sin and essentially, us, weakened the law?” Now that we have answered those questions, let us put everything together and see what we get.

Romans 8:3-4 The Great Exchange (Notes)

Notes and Handouts (available on onlythebroken.org) available.

Romans 8:3a What has God done?

In the overabundance of God’s love, all heavens and the earth, the stars, sun, moon, sea and land, animals and plants and you and me are the tithes of God’s love.  God’s offering is doing what nothing else, not even His law, could do: redeem us.

Romans 8:3a What Has God Done? (Notes)

Notes for tonight’s Bible Study. (Handouts to group are on the website.)

Romans 8:2 God Is All Powerful

It was in God’s omnipotence, that is God has all power and all ability to carry out all of His decrees.  One of His decrees is clearly stated in Romans 8:2, namely “Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.“  So how does God “set you free… from sin and death”?

We will expound on Romans 8:2 using a glimpse God’s power and might in Psalm 139:12-17 and what He does with that power in Psalm 139:19-24 in order to break you free from sin and death.

Note: No audio available.

Romans 8:1 Fact: You Cannot Be Condemned

A look and study into Romans 8:1. What is condemnation and whom did Jesus come to condemn and not to condemn.