Shepherding with Spurgeon

Weekly Newsletter for Pastors from SpurgeonBooks

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

“so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.” (Isaiah 55:11)

What comfort there is here for Christian workers, for you who proclaim God’s Word! Yours is no hap-hazard business; look at the “wills” in this verse. When we make known God’s Word, we are not drawing a bow at a random, we are not sowing seed which may or may not beget a harvest; it will, it will, it will. God said it three times. He is very fond of the number three; the Trinity is constantly revealed throughout both the Old and the New Testaments. When it is not spoken and declared as such doctrinally, you see its practical effect in the frequent threefold utterances of God.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION FROM SPURGEON

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe God’s steadfast love.

Yet again, by the expression, “I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands,” God seems to say, “I have done so much for you that I can never forget you.” God has actively wrought for his people in many ways, but I will only now mention what his Spirit has wrought in you; what a theme that is! And, from the fact that the Spirit of God has wrought so much in us, we derive the satisfaction that he will never forget us. A man does not forget the work of his own hands, especially if it is something very choice. I remember that, in the siege of Paris, a great artist hid away a grand picture which was then but partly finished. Did he forget to go to Paris when it had its liberty, and to seek out his painting? Assuredly not; he remembered the work of his own hands, and back he went to draw it out, and put the finishing touches to it. So, God has done too much for us for him ever to lose us. Has he not created us anew in Christ Jesus, and given his Spirit to dwell within us? Then, surely, he will never turn away from work so costly, so divine; but he will complete it to his own praise and glory.

ONE MORE REMINDER: PREACH JESUS THIS WEEKEND

“Leave Christ out of preaching, and you have taken milk from the children, you have taken the strong meat from the men.” — Charles Spurgeon