DEVOTION  for  April 26th  Written And Calendared  By Charles H. Spurgeon.  

 by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Who was (is) Charles Haddon Spurgeon ? 

PRAYER 17, Part 1: TO BE LIKE CHRIST.

ANECDOTE 264:    Infidelity,  a Frail Support.
FAITH’S CHECKBOOK:  April 26  WHAT [a Legacy Of Blessing] TO HAVE CHILDREN
-The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him-   Proverbs 20:7
MORNING: "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." —Song of Solomon 2:10
EVENING:  “IF any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” —Revelation 3:20

A SINNER’S PRAYER

PRAYER 17, Part 1: TO BE LIKE CHRIST.

         BLESSED art Thou, O God; teach us Thy statutes! Because Thou art the infinitely blessed One, Thou canst impart [give] blessing, and Thou art [are] infinitely willing to do so, and therefore do we approach Thee with great confidence, through Jesus Christ Thy Son, whom Thou hast [have] made blessed for evermore.  Oh! hear Thou the voice of  Thy servants this day,  [today] and according to Thine infinite love and wisdom answer Thou us [answer us]; according to Thy riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.

[We ask this In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.]

(Attachment: PRAYER 17.doc)

ANECDOTE 264:    Infidelity, a Frail Support.

       In the backwoods of Canada there resided a good minister, who one evening went out to meditate, as Isaac [Jacob’s son]  did, in the fields.

        He soon found himself on the borders of a forest, which he entered, and walked along a track [trail] which had been trodden before him; musing, musing still,  until at last the shadows of twilight gathered around him, and he began to think how he should spend a night in the forest. He trembled at the idea of remaining there, with the poor shelter of a tree into which he would be compelled [forced] to climb.

        On a sudden he saw a light in the distance, among the trees, and imagining that it might be from the window of some cottage where he would find a hospitable retreat, he hastened to it, and to his surprise saw a space cleared, and trees laid down to make a platform, and upon it a speaker addressing a multitude. He thought to himself,  “I have stumbled on a company of people, who in this dark forest have assembled to worship God, and some minister is preaching to them, at this late hour of the evening, concerning the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;” 

        …but to his surprise and horror, when he came nearer, he found a young man declaiming against God, daring the Almighty to do his worst upon him, speaking terrible things in wrath against the justice of the Most High, and venturing most bold and lawful assertions concerning his own disbelief in a future state [eternity]. It was altogether a singular scene; it was lighted up by pine-knots, [popping in the fire] which cast a glare here and there, while the thick darkness in other places still reigned. The people were intent on listening to the orator, and when he sat down thunders of applause were given to him; each one seeming to emulate the other in his praise.

        Thought the minister, “I must not let this pass; I must rise and speak ; the honor of my God and his cause demands it.” But he feared to speak, for he knew not what to say, having come there suddenly; but, he would have ventured, had not something else occurred.

        A man of middle age, hale and strong, rose, and leaning on his staff, he said : “My friends, I have a word to speak to you to-night. I am not about to refute any of the arguments of the orator; I shall not *criticize his style; I shall say nothing concerning what I believe to be the blasphemies he has uttered; but I shall simply relate to you a fact, and after I have done that,  you shall draw your own conclusions.

        Yesterday I walked by the side of yonder river; I saw on its floods a young man in a boat. The boat was unmanageable; it was going fast toward the rapids; he could not use the oars, and I saw that he was not capable of bringing the boat to the shore. I saw that young man wring his hands in agony; by-and-by [finally] he gave up the attempt to save his life, kneeled down and cried with desperate earnestness, 

“0, God ! save my soul!  If my body can not be saved, save my soul.” 

        I heard him confess that he had been a blasphemer; I heard him vow that if his life were spared, he would never be such again; I heard him implore the mercy of heaven for Jesus Christ’s sake, and earnestly plead that he might be washed in his blood. 

        These arms saved that young man from the flood; I plunged in, brought the boat to shore, and saved his life.  That same young man has just now addressed you, and cursed his Maker. What say you to this, sirs ?”

        The speaker sat down. You may guess what a shudder ran through the young man himself, and how the audience in one moment changed their notes, and saw that after all, while it was a fine thing to brag and [express] bravado against Almighty God on dry land, and when danger was distant, it was not quite so grand, to think ill  of him [Almighty God] when near the verge of the grave.

        We believe there is enough conscience in every man to convince him that God must punish him for his sin; therefore,  we think that our text Psalms 7:12  will wake an echo in every heart. 

“If he [the wicked] turn not, he [God] will whet [sharpen] his sword.”    Psalms 7:12

FAITH’S CHECKBOOK:  April 26  WHAT [a Legacy Of Blessing] TO HAVE CHILDREN -The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him-   Proverbs 20:7

-El justo que camina en su integridad, Bienaventurados serán sus hijos despues de el-  Proverbios 20:7  
Anxiety [worry] about our family is natural, but we shall be wise if we turn it into care about our own character. If we walk before the Lord in integrity, we shall do more to bless our descendants than if we bequeathed them large estates. A father’s holy life is a rich legacy for his sons.  The upright man leaves his heirs his example, and this in itself will be a mine of true wealth.

        How many men may trace their success in life to the example of their parents!  He leaves them also his repute.[reputation] Men think all the better of us as the sons of a man who could be trusted, the successors of a tradesman of excellent repute. Oh, that all young men were anxious [eager] to keep up the family name! 

        Above all, he leaves his children his prayers and the blessing of a prayer-hearing God, and these make our offspring to be favored among the sons of men. God will save them even after we are dead. Oh, that they might be saved at once! 

        Our integrity may be God’s means of saving our sons and daughters. If they see the truth of our religion proved by our lives, it may be that they will believe in Jesus for themselves.  Lord, fulfill this word to my household!

Prayer: Thank you Lord that the children of a just man walk after him in his simple, holy integrity.  Open my ears, Lord Jesus and let me walk in integrity knowing that Your promises are sure.  I believe that You died for my sins and that God raised You from the dead. Thank You that I am kept by Your faith. Galatians 2:20

Pray also that all pastors, workers and believers everywhere rightly divide God’s everlasting Word,   to declare, preach and share the good news that Jesus suffered and died on the cross so that eternal life is given to  all who trust in Him. Pray that all redeemed, born-again blood-bought children of God abide faithful to declare the  Good News of Jesus Christ with every creature in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

I am joyful together with the  joy that shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no [further] repentance. Luke 15:7  in Jesus name, Amen.

 
MORNING  April 26

"Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." —Song of Solomon 2:10
--Levántate, mi amor, hermosa mía, y vente.-- Cantares 2:10 

       LO [Listen], I hear the voice of my Beloved! He speaks to me! Fair weather is smiling on the face of the earth, and He would not have me spiritually asleep while nature is all around me awaking from her winter's rest.

        He bids me "Rise up," and well He may, for I have long enough been lying among the pots [temptations] of worldliness. 

        He is risen; I am risen in Him; why then should I cleave to the dust ?    From lower loves, desires, pursuits, and aspirations, I would rise toward Him. He calls me by the sweet title of "My love," and counts me fair; this is a good argument for my rising. If He has exalted [lifted] me, and thinks I am beautiful, how can I linger [hang out] in the tents of  Kedar and find congenial associates [polite friends] among the sons of men? He bids [call] me,

"Come away." 

        Further and further from everything selfish, low, worldly, or sinful, He calls me; from the outwardly religious [hypocritical] world which knows Him not, and has no sympathy with the mystery of the higher life. He calls me. 

        "Come away" has no harsh sound in it to my ear, for what is there to hold me in this wilderness of vanity [self-centeredness] and sin?

        O my Lord, would that I could come away, but I am trapped among the thorns, and cannot escape from them as I would. I would, if it were possible, have neither eyes, nor ears, nor heart for sin. You call me to Yourself by saying "Come away," and this is a melodious call indeed.

        To come to You is to come home from exile [banishment], to come to land out of the [sea’s] raging storm, to come to rest after long labor, to come to the goal of my desires and the summit of my wishes. But Lord, how can a stone rise, how can a lump of clay come away from the horrible pit?

        O raise me; draw me. Your grace can do it.

Send Your Holy Spirit to kindle sacred flames of love in my heart, and I will continue to rise until I leave life and time behind me, and indeed come away in Your name,  Lord Jesus, Amen.

EVENING        April 26

 “IF any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” —Revelation 3:20
-Si alguno oyere mi voz y abriere la puerta, entraré á él — Apocalipsis 3:20 

          WHAT is your desire this evening? Is it set on heavenly things? Do you long to enjoy the high doctrine of eternal love? Do you desire liberty [peace of mind and freedom] in very close communion with God? Do you aspire to know the heights, and depths, and lengths, and breadths [of the Lord]?

        Then you must draw near to Jesus. You must get a clear sight of Him in His preciousness and completeness: you must view Him in His work, in His offices, in His person. He who understands Christ, receives an anointing [Holy presence] from the Holy One, by which He knows all things. Christ is the great master key of all the chambers [rooms] of God: there is no treasure house of God which will not open and yield up all its wealth to the soul that lives near to Jesus. Are you saying,

"0 that He would dwell in my bosom [heart]"? "Would that He would make my heart His dwelling-place for ever"?

        Open the door, beloved, and He will come into your soul. He has long been knocking, and all with this object, that he may commune [have fellowship] with you, and you with Him. He sups [has supper, dinner] with you because you find the house or the heart [desire] , and you with Him because He brings the provision.

        He could not sup with you if it were not in your heart, you finding the house; nor could you sup with Him, for you have a bare cupboard [pantry], if He did not bring the provision [meal] with Him.

        Fling [throw open] wide, then, the doors of your soul. He will come with that love you long to feel; He will come with that joy you cannot work up in your poor depressed spirit; He will bring the peace you lack; He will come with His flagons [bottles] of wine and sweet apples of love, and cheer you till you have no other sick­ness but that of "love o'er-powering, love divine." 

        Only open the door to Him, drive out His enemies, give Him the keys of your heart, and

He will dwell there forever. 

        Oh, wondrous love, that brings such a guest to dwell in such a heart! [as mine]

Note:  JM witnessed the last moments of his *Daddy’s life on earth and heard him say “Amen” repeatedly and continuously affirming his own life and testimony of God’s goodness to him and his agreement for his imminent departure and to be present with his Lord Jesus.   Amen...  Amen…   Amen!

*Charles Dumah Riley, Sr.    1897 – 1987

My Daddy’s never changing prayer before every meal where he was present and always at every family meal and was always offered with all gravity and reverence in the unique inflection of his deep Bass prayer voice:

“Accept our thanks for these and all other blessings, we Humbly ask in Thy name, Amen.”  

You can cast your cares on the Lord…  

1.     Call on Him. As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me..  

Psalm 55:16

2.      Trust Him. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass ... Psalm 37:5

3.     Come to Him. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest..  Matthew 11:28

4.     Give Him the burden.  Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22]

The John Mark Publishing Company   P.O.  Box 21, San Juan Capistrano, CA  92693 
e-mail:  dailyspurgeon@aol.com                 website:  DailySpurgeon.com

Please send e-mail addresses of anyone who you would like to receive  DailySpurgeon 
… and pray for souls to be saved and believers to be strengthened. 

The Lord … is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

Pray also that believers will be taught by the Holy Spirit and will rightly divide God’s Holy Word preserved by God, Himself.

John 3:16  God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten [divinely fathered] Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but may be having eternal life.

vis. Textus Receptus [The Received Greek Text] (From the overwhelming majority of extant New Testament Greek manuscripts)

The Incomplete and unsealed codices of Sinaiticus and Vaticanus are not majority texts, [Original Masoretic Hebrew and the Greek Textus Receptus]. Sinaiticus and Vaticanus present variant, ambiguous and erroneous readings rather than that of  the well-established and settled  texts.  They disagree often with one another as well as with the settled majority texts. Thus, an attempt to create a pretext that will continue to justify a never-ending demand  for additional editions and interpretations.  These unsettled differences and bias in certain sectarian doctrine [dogma] have led to the production of multiple “modern” editions with ambiguities, many variant readings and confusion from the explosion of unending, new editions.

 Profit-driven publishers have embraced such an economic windfall to sell a continual flow of “new and better” English edition of The Bible. They give too little attention to the fidelity and accuracy already settled [in heaven] in the majority manuscripts of the Masoretic Hebrew and the Textus Receptus Greek.

Psalm 119:89-90

ל  Lamed

89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.
90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations:
thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. [abides]

 God, Himself, providentially protects and preserves every letter of His Word.

His Word is

Inspired [God-breathed], self-authenticating [proves authenticity by intrinsic evidence alone],  immutable [unchanging and unchangeable], eternal [has always existed], inerrant [without error], infallible [unmistakable and unfailing], infinite [inexhaustible] and omnipotent [all-powerful], forever settled in heaven.   God is not the author of confusion.

 1 Corinthians 14:33

MISSION PURPOSE:         [JR1] 

Our aim is to faithfully follow the Lord Jesus Christ. We trust the Holy Spirit to impart God’s  divine revelation to us from His Word, the Holy Bible.  We trust that many who are lost will be saved, that believers will be comforted, strengthened and encouraged as we are being conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ; all, to God’s glory.

Divine Scripture is God’s infinite, eternal, inerrant, infallible, immutable revelation to all mankind.  Herein, all revealed truth is given to the world. It is God-breathed [inspired] , self-authenticating [compare scripture to scripture]  and providentially protected and will endure, immutable, forever.  We purpose, therefore, with God enabling, to rightly divide and follow The Holy Bible in all things.  Personal guidance in Holiness and all divine revelation to His Church body are through God’s Holy Word, the Bible.

Hence, we resolve, God helping us, to pray, read, study, meditate-on, trust-in  and obey God’s revealed and divinely preserved Word,  holding it to be the final authority and legal precedent in all things as the divinely established Stare Decisis [Latin: to stand by that which is decided].

Therefore, the purpose of The John Mark Publishing Company is to publish and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every creature, ministering God’s love to all, especially those in the household of faith.  The Bible is God’s everlasting, inspired, (God breathed) inerrant, infallible, unchangeable, divinely protected and preserved Word of love and salvation to the entire world forever settled in heaven ... 

It is also the essence and  foundation of this ministry as we aim to encourage a growing discipleship and devotional vigor.

History: The preaching, teaching and writing  of Charles Haddon Spurgeon is inspired and consistently, continues to reveal God’s love through His Word, rightly divided and conforming to all doctrines of Biblical Christianity.  His work continues to benefit, bless and challenge readers through authentic Gospel preaching and its sound biblical teaching. The Lord’s ministry through Charles Spurgeon  continues to flourish from  (Spurgeon’s)  Metropolitan Tabernacle,   (Brief History)

Spurgeon's printed  materials are shared with the hope that growth in personal devotion and the edification of the church as well as for the benefit, blessing and loving challenge to all readers will occur.  We desire that the written Word of God will become the Living  Word in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ to each and every reader.

To this end,  DailySpurgeon.com is offered as an opportunity to hear Gospel preaching, engage in daily devotional exercises,  Bible study and meditation, prayer, sing praises and Worship in Spirit and in Truth.

Adherence to Spurgeon’s calendared dates and original, unabridged text is carefully followed.

Prayer: Dear Lord, empower your ministry here to win many souls, and serve those in need, especially those in the household of faith, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Disclaimer: The John Mark Publishing Company does not solicit praise of  Charles H. Spurgeon or his writing or preaching.  He didn’t need or want it then and wouldn’t desire it now.  Our aim is to lift up and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and to preach Him only, and him crucified.
Precaution: These Messages, prayers or any other electronic media  will not substitute for continual fellowship with the Lord Jesus or for the gathering in in-person worship. Neither will they replace personal reading, meditation, prayer and fasting over God's divinely preserved and eternal Word imparted by the Holy Spirit.

The Authorized King James Version (AKJV), also known as the Authorized Version (AV), is the preferred English Bible because it is rendered [translated into English] accurately and  faithfully from the established majority of the Greek Textus Receptus [received text]  manuscripts and the Hebrew Masoretic Text.  These manuscripts have been and will always be providentially protected by God, and always give greater glory to God when compared to any variant, alternate, ambiguous or erroneous reading or interpretation.  The established majority manuscripts avoid doctrinal error, inaccuracies in translation, uninspired editorial notations, variant or ambiguous readings taken from the incomplete and unsealed Codices Vaticanus, and  Sinaiticus.

The Authorized King James version is distinguished further by the requirement of The Crown in Great Brittan that all King James bibles be printed only by the Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s authorized printer. No other [person or publisher] may print, copy or import the King James Bible into Great Brittan by order of the Crown.

Printed Prayer: Printed prayers must not be read or offered as a substitute for personal, fervent, effectual, heart-felt, prayer. They are offered, rather, to warm the hearts of those who will presently seek a season of fervent, authentic two-way, heart-to-heart  fellowship and prayer with the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Authentic revelations from God during  prayer are always consistent with His revealed Word, the Bible. 
Preaching  Preparation:  When preparing to preach, please send us the text reference that has been chosen if you would like us to send the  Spurgeon Sermon addressing the same text.
My Prayer: Dear Father,  is that You would touch, lift up, encourage and teach all who minister your Word.  Bless all who minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May Your blessing and holy anointing fall fresh upon each dear reader and abide with each one who rightly divides and faithfully proclaims Your Word  [The Bible]. Please save many souls; and may all the glory be yours alone. I pray this in the name of our Redeemer, The Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Distribution: The Publishing Company sends DailySpurgeon by e-mail, to all request received. No fee or registration is required. Please send the e-mail address of all who you would like to add to our mailing list. Also, please FORWARD these e-mails freely to anyone you choose.   Send requests to dailyspurgeon@aol.com
Editorial Support: [Brackets] are used to clarify words and expressions that are not commonly used in, present day (USA) English.   No changes other than spelling differences between UK and United States English (USA) noted with asterisks *  have been made to the original, unabridged text.  Bible scripture links are underlined blue text.(English: AKJV, Authorized King James Version; Spanish: Reina Valera Gomez).  Brackets, (  […] ) clarify meaning and  yellow highlighting are used for emphasis. These additions are the only ones made by the Publishing company. 
Confidentiality Pledge: The mailing list is strictly confidential and will not be used or distributed in any way for any purpose other than to send this daily message except for occasional, confidential prayer requests, notices or family birthdays and special memorial dates
Unsubscribe: “Unsubscribe” requests are respectfully and promptly honored. 

Prayers, Anecdotes, Faith’s Checkbook  And  Morning & Evening, by C.H. Spurgeon are public domain and free from © copyright limitation or restriction. Please copy and share freely, with anyone who may come to mind. Your partnership in this work is welcome and received with joy and gratitude. 

         
Contributions:  Thank you for your encouragement, prayers, and gifts for  the continuation of the website, DailySpurgeon. Please make gifts payable to:

DailySpurgeon c/o The John Mark Publishing Company

P.O. Box 21  San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693

       Paul’s gratitude, contentment and blessing recorded in the book of Philippians quotes the principle and practices regarding all contributions to the Publishing Company.

We desire fruit that may abound to your account.  (vis.)

"For even in  [the]  Thessaloni'ca [jail] ye sent once and again unto my necessity.  Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.  Philippians 4:17. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, Exodus. 29.18 a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. …But I know that my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:17-19.  Now unto God and our Father  be  glory  for ever and ever. Amen. Salute [Greet]  every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you All the saints salute [Greet]  you, chiefly they that are of  *Caesar’s household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen”

 Philippians 4:23

* Not only were new converts won to the truth in Caesar's household, but after their conversion they remained in that household. They did not feel at liberty to abandon their post of duty because their surroundings were no longer congenial. [They were out of their comfort zone but obliged to steadfastly remain and serve there] The Gospel had been received by them there, and there they remained, and through their changed life and character testified to the transforming power of their newly found faith in Jesus Christ.  .

Invitation: 
A person may come to Jesus by (whole heartedly) praying a prayer like this:

 A SINNER’S PRAYER:

“Lord Jesus, I’m a sinner. I’m lost and it’s hopeless for me to save myself. Without you and your death on the cross I would spend eternity in Hell.

I know that me doing my best or being good (in my own opinion)  and justifying my own behavior as "good"  or "OK"  can never be enough to save me.
I look to You, alone  Lord Jesus to save me. 
I come to You   right now.  Lord Jesus. Will You  please save me.  I believe You died on the cross in my place to pay for my sin debt and put to death my sin nature. I know  You always keep your word.  Please save me. You have said and  it’s written in the Bible that you won’t reject anyone who comes to you. Thank You.

I  give myself (all of myself) to You, Lord Jesus. I declare that You are my Savior and Lord. I’m sorry for and I turn away from  every sin (every bad thought, every bad word I have spoken and every bad thing I have ever done)  and look to You free me from the penalty of sin, to keep me free from the power of sin and empower me overcome any temptation from sin’s  presence.  Thank you for forgiving  all of  my sins by dying on the cross to pay the punishment that I deserve.  (I was a sinner by nature and by behavior). But now I'm washed clean by Your blood that was shed [poured out] for me at Calvary [at the cross].

Thank you Lord Jesus that You loved me and died for me before I was bor n and that You love me now and will always love me and will never reject or turn your back on me. I know You are the Way, the Truth and the Life and that no one can come to the Father other than by You.

Thank you Father that You have made a way for me to see myself as ungodly.  But,  because You are good You have made a way and given me the desire to come to You, to turn away from my sin and to trust in the Lord Jesus.  You have forgiven me because He took my place and You have provided for  me to be born again [born from above, born of the Holy Spirit]. 
You prompted this desire and faith to believe in Your only begotten Son who,gave up  His life and died on the cross to pay my sin debt, not mine alone, but the sins of the whole world.

Thank You, Heavenly Father that you raised Jesus from the dead. He is ALIVE and in Him we are victorious over sin, death and the grave and in Christ Jesus there is no condemnation. After You raised Him from the dead You gave Him a Glorified, [everlasting] physical body and  after he was seen by many witnesses on earth You took Him up to reign with  You  in heaven. Thank you for saving me.  I pray this in the name, of Your only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ with a grateful heart.   Thank You for saving me heavenly Father and for sending the Comforter, The Spirit of Truth, for my guidance and solemn instruction into all truth.,  Amen.”

Thank You Holy Spirit of Truth, Comforter, Paraclete [one who is by your side]  for the new life in Jesus and the  victory that comes when I recon myself dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God through Christ Jesus our Lord trusting You, Holy Spirit for the  empowerment  to see  this promise fulfilled. Romans 6:11

Thank you that you, Holy Spirit,  always exalt the Lord Jesus.  John 16:8-11

With all my heart, I thank you Lord for saving me.
Help me to live for You in Jesus name, Amen.

Please allow us to celebrate with you and with the angels in heaven your new birth. Write to:

DailySpurgeon

The John Mark Publishing Company 

PO BOX 21

San Juan Capistrano, CA  92693, U.S.A.

Please send e-mail addresses of those you would like to receive DailySpurgeon  by e-mail.

The John Mark Publishing Company   P.O.  Box 21, San Juan Capistrano, CA  92693 
e-mail:  DailySpurgeon@aol.com      Internet:  dailyspurgeon.com

 [JR1]