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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Monday, October 8, 2007
MORNING:
"Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a
draught."
-- Luke 5:4
We learn from this narrative, the necessity of human agency. The
draught of fishes was miraculous, yet neither the fisherman nor his
boat, nor his fishing tackle were ignored; but all were used to take
the fishes. So in the saving of souls, God worketh by means; and while
the present economy of grace shall stand, God will be pleased by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. When God worketh
without instruments, doubtless he is glorified; but he hath himself
selected the plan of instrumentality as being that by which he is most
magnified in the earth. Means of themselves are utterly unavailing.
"Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing." What was
the reason of this? Were they not fishermen plying their special
calling? Verily, they were no raw hands; they understood the work. Had
they gone about the toil unskilfully? No. Had they lacked industry? No,
they had toiled. Had they lacked perseverance? No, they had toiled all
the night. Was there a deficiency of fish in the sea? Certainly not,
for as soon as the Master came, they swam to the net in shoals. What,
then, is the reason? Is it because there is no power in the means of
themselves apart from the presence of Jesus? "Without him we can do
nothing." But with Christ we can do all things. Christ's presence
confers success. Jesus sat in Peter's boat, and his will, by a
mysterious influence, drew the fish to the net. When Jesus is lifted up
in his Church, his presence is the Church's power-the shout of a king
is in the midst of her. "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto
me." Let us go out this morning on our work of soul fishing, looking up
in faith, and around us in solemn anxiety. Let us toil till night
comes, and we shall not labour in vain, for he who bids us let down the
net, will fill it with fishes.
EVENING:
"Praying in the Holy Ghost."
-- Jude 20
Mark the grand characteristic of true prayer-"In the Holy Ghost." The
seed of acceptable devotion must come from heaven's storehouse. Only
the prayer which comes from God can go to God. We must shoot the Lord's
arrows back to him. That desire which he writes upon our heart will
move his heart and bring down a blessing, but the desires of the flesh
have no power with him.
Praying in the Holy Ghost is praying in fervency. Cold prayers ask the
Lord not to hear them. Those who do not plead with fervency, plead not
at all. As well speak of lukewarm fire as of lukewarm prayer-it is
essential that it be red hot. It is praying perseveringly. The true
suppliant gathers force as he proceeds, and grows more fervent when God
delays to answer. The longer the gate is closed, the more vehemently
does he use the knocker, and the longer the angel lingers the more
resolved is he that he will never let him go without the blessing.
Beautiful in God's sight is tearful, agonizing, unconquerable
importunity. It means praying humbly, for the Holy Spirit never puffs
us up with pride. It is his office to convince of sin, and so to bow us
down in contrition and brokenness of spirit. We shall never sing Gloria
in excelsis except we pray to God De profundis: out of the depths must
we cry, or we shall never behold glory in the highest. It is loving
prayer. Prayer should be perfumed with love, saturated with love-love
to our fellow saints, and love to Christ. Moreover, it must be a prayer
full of faith. A man prevails only as he believes. The Holy Spirit is
the author of faith, and strengthens it, so that we pray believing
God's promise. O that this blessed combination of excellent graces,
priceless and sweet as the spices of the merchant, might be fragrant
within us because the Holy Ghost is in our hearts! Most blessed
Comforter, exert thy mighty power within us, helping our infirmities in
prayer.
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MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
and preacher Charles Spurgeon. It's part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine,
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