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Spurgeon’s Channel of Encouragement
by Charles R. Swindoll
Charles Haddon Spurgeon remains one of the most colorful and gifted preachers in the history of the church. Any man who loves to preach and desires to cultivate the art and skill of communication must study Spurgeon. Before the man was 30 years old, he was the most popular preacher in England. The new Metropolitan Tabernacle was filled to overflowing every Lord’s Day as people came miles by horse and buggy to hear the gifted man handle the Word of God. They were challenged, encouraged, exhorted, fed, and built up in the Christian faith. He was truly a phenomenon.
As a result, he also became the object of great criticism by the press, by other pastors, by influential people in London, and by petty parishioners. The man, not always a model of quiet piety (to say the least), had numerous enemies. Normally, he handled the criticism fairly well . . . but finally, it began to get to him. He began to slump beneath the attacks. The persecution started to take a severe toll on his otherwise resilient spirit.
I am told that his wife, seeing the results of those verbal blows on her husband, decided to assist him in getting back on his feet and regaining his powerful stature in the pulpit. She found in her Bible Matthew 5:10–12, and she printed the words of this passage on a large sheet of paper. Then she tacked that sheet to the ceiling of their bedroom, directly above Charles’s side of the bed! Every morning, every evening, when he would rest his enormous frame in his bed, the words were there to meet and to encourage him.
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10–12)
The large sheet of paper remained fixed to the ceiling for an extended period of time until it had done the job. May Mrs. Spurgeon’s tribe increase! It is refreshing to think how a marriage partner can be such a vital channel of encouragement.
And it is also encouraging to see that we have no corner on the problem of persecution. Did you observe what Christ said? “In the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Servants, that statement will help us call a halt to the next pity-party we are tempted to throw for ourselves. We are not alone. Persecution has been going on for centuries.
No need for a pity party, servant. Persecution has been going on for centuries. —Chuck Swindoll Tweet This
Excerpted from Improving Your Serve: The Art of Unselfish Living, Copyright © 1981 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
– See more at: http://www.insight.org/resources/devotionals/spurgeons-channel.html#sthash.P30kF72N.dpuf
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The Effectiveness of God’s Way
Yesterday we observed the ineffectiveness of Moses’ attempt to liberate his people from Egyptian slavery, but today we see him given a second chance to do it God’s way. If we could learn the lessons Moses learned about the dangers of self-reliance and the advantages of depending on the Lord, we would save ourselves much hardship.
When we choose to cooperate with God and submit to His way, He will do amazing things in and through us. Despite Moses’ past failure, the Lord still used him to accomplish the divine plan, but only after he became usable—that is, humbled and broken of self-will. Just consider what God achieved when Moses did it His way.
• He showed what great things He could do through one yielded, dependent person.
• He got more done in less time, and with fewer resources. There was no insurrection or long, drawn-out war—just a dramatic display of His power.
• He proved the superiority of His way by freeing over two million people without the loss of a single Hebrew life.
• He sent impoverished slaves out of bondage with their captors’ riches (Ex. 3:21-22).
• He proved to both the Israelites and the Egyptians that He alone is the God of heaven and earth.
• He received all the glory.
Our past failures never prevent God’s willingness or ability to use us. In fact, our weakness is a great opportunity for the display of His glory. In our own strength, we are totally ineffective. But when we submit to the Lord’s authority, we can experience His victory in whatever He calls us to do.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visitwww.intouch.org.
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February 3
Fullness
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. – John 6:35
Contemporary culture is fascinated by the wolf, celebrated as the symbol of the full, uninhibited life. Actually, the wolf is a slave to fear, haunted by the night shadows. A better symbol of fullness would be the domesticated dog. The wolfish nature has been tamed. The pet finds a fullness of life denied the wild wolf. The dog with his master enjoys more freedom than the wolf, who inhabits the anarchy of the forest. Liberty is found when one is “domesticated” under the Master, Jesus. No longer is such an individual compelled by the quest for survival, but he or she lives in the fullness of the Master’s supply.
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Revelation One – We are all Priests – Video & Audio
Revelation Two – Jesus Talking – Video & Audio
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Merciful God
BIBLE MEDITATION:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Did you know Methuselah lived to be 969 years old? And God had a very good reason for letting him live to be that old. The reason Methuselah lived so long was not that he had good genes but that God had great mercy. Why?
The name “Methuselah” means “When he is gone, it will come.” The “it” refers to The Flood. And according to the Word of God, The Flood came exactly the day that Methuselah died. God kept letting him live and live because God didn’t want anybody to perish in that flood. God kept giving one more opportunity and one more chance. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
ACTION POINT:
Reflect upon your life—are there times you can name when God intervened with mercy when He might have sent judgment instead? Perhaps there were times when He spared you from something, and later you look back upon that time and say, “God was so merciful.” Remember His mercy today and thank Him specifically for how He has covered your life with His garment of mercy.
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We are more than Conquerors – Video & Audio
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Read and hear each Chapter from the Book of Revelation:
Revelation One – We are all Priests – Video & Audio
Revelation Two – Jesus Talking – Video & Audio
Revelation Three – We will sit beside Jesus – Video & Audio
Revelation Four – The Judgment of God on Earth – Video & Audio
Revelation Five – Jesus Breaks the 7 Seals – Video & Audio
Revelation Six – Tribulation Begins – Video & Audio
Revelation Seven – The 144,000 – Video & Audio
Revelation Eight – 7th Seal & 1st 4 Trumpets – Video & Audio
Revelation Nine – 200,000,000 Warriors – Video & Audio
Revelation Ten – Mighty Angel Standing on the sea and land – Video & Audio
Revelation Eleven – The Two Prophets – Video & Audio
Revelation Twelve – Satan defeated and cast down to Earth – Video & Audio
Revelation Thirteen – Antichrist and his lieutenat arise – Video & Audio
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Revelation Fifteen – Last 3 1/2 Years of Tribulation – Video & Audio
Revelation Sixteen – The 7 Flasks are poured out upon the Earth – Video & Audio
Revelation Seventeen – False Religious System – Video & Audio
Revelation Eighteen – Babylon Falls – Video & Audio
Revelation Nineteen – The Wedding Banquet of the Lamb – Video & Audio
Revelation Twenty – 1,000 Year Reign of Christ on Earth – Video & Audio
Revelation Twenty-One – The New Earth and New Jerusalem – Video & Audio
Revelation Twenty-Two – The Throne of God and The Lamb – Video & Audio
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Revelation 2:1-7
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Revelation 13:18
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