C.H. Spurgeon Quotes

Upon hearing my first C.H. Spurgeon sermon, I felt immediately compelled to make record of several quotes that stood out to me as profoundly true or well put. The sermon was entitled 'Eyes Right' by C. H. Spurgeon
Scripture(s): Proverbs 4:25

We have thousands around us who need to be startled out of their slumber… lulled to sleep even by the preacher's tones… oh ye sluggards, may God awaken you by grace, lest he arouse you by the thunderbolts of his vengeance.

Time is but the doorstep to eternity.

You cannot see to the end of a crooked way

It was his dying request, "this do in remembrance of me".

Think lying isn't a big deal?

Read Acts 5.

Think carefully – why did Ananias and his wife die?

Was it because they didn't give God everything they owned? I don't believe so. I'm sure there were many others who only game some, and they didn't all drop dead. What then?

They lied about how much they made, and they kept some of the money for themselves, even though they claimed that they were giving away all of it. It was the "tongue of Satan" that killed these two.

The truth of your words isn't just about your honor, or your witness as a Christian. God takes this very seriously.

Proverbs 12:22
"Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight."

Never Stop Praying

Colossians 1:9-12 (NIV)

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

It's so simple - our power comes from Christ. To get it, we need to ask for it. Why can't we get it through our heads that we need this? Pray for one another, especially those who you love and cherish, because without God in your relationships there is no love! God is love.

Lord, please remind me to pray
So in your will I'll stay
Each and every day
There is no other way

Tears Will Not Save You

Heb. 12:17 (NLT)

You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

Repentance removes the barrier that sin creates between you and God. But beware - the time for repentance is not indefinite. Don't wait to turn back to God, because if you wait until you're good and ready, your time may have already passed.

Carrying Your Cross

Luke 14:27 (NIV) says, "...anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

What does it mean to carry my cross? Why do I have to do this to be Jesus disciple?

I think that Jesus is basically saying that there are challenges and hardships that we all have to bear. Sometimes they are for the building of His kingdom, and sometimes they just prove that we love Him. If we won't take a little pain to show our love for Him, can we really claim to be His disciple?

I pray this gives me a new outlook on pain and suffering... and even stress.

Q&A: What translation of the Bible should I use?

Louise asks: what problems are there with the New King James Version (NKJV), and what version of the Bible would you recommend?

Louise, your #1 reference for choosing a translation is "How to Read the Bible for All it's Worth" by Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart.

This book goes into great detail on important issues such as translation, and how to interpret what the Bible is saying to you in context, as opposed to personalizing every line of it out of context.

It is a great read, and will change the way you look at God's Holy Word.


cheers,

Mike Lovdal

What is God teaching me?

Sometimes it's hard to say. He likes to teach me many things at once, which can be rather confusing to summarize into just a few points. I want to make record of this though. I believe that it's important to remember where you cam from and what you learned there so God doesn't have to take you through it again and relearn everything.

Quiet Time makes all of the difference.
When I take the time to meet with God first thing in the morning, I am blessed throughout the day. Reading through the Bible, I am filled with wisdom. When comfy covers get the best of me, and I have to rush to get to school without doing my devotions, the day is hectic and stressful. Of all the things I want to learn permanently, it's this: devotions in the morning = a brighter day.

Be the Change you want to see.
You can tell people what you want them to change about themselves, and they will be offended and ignore you. If you talk about changes in your own life, and actually make those changes, others will follow your example. The Holy Spirit uses your positive example to convict other believers.

Don't Settle for who you are.
Sometimes it can be easy to say, "this is who I am, and it's not going to change." The problem is, this is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If I don't believe that I will ever change, then I won't. The inverse of this is, of course, when I determine that I will change, God is showing me that I can. As long as that change is within His will, my life is blessed by my obedience in having "a teachable spirit."

The Great Commission is not an option.
The last chapter of Matthew is one often overlooked by modern churches, or at best, considered an interesting and inspirational speech to a couple of apostles. This couldn't be further from the truth. Jesus calls us to "go and make disciples of all nations," and He doesn't say "please." God is showing me that regardless of whether or not I feel equipped for witnessing to others, I am. The Holy Spirit has been in me since the moment I was saved. At that moment, I received everything that I need to witness. Convicting hearts is the Holy Spirit's job. Saving people is Jesus' job. Carrying the Good News to the world? That's our part.