An all-round ministry - Spurgeon - IV - Chapter 2 concluded

Required reading
An all-round ministry by CH Spurgeon (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter 2 (Forward) by reading points III to VI.

My summary
Today we finish Spurgeon's chapter exhorting us to go forward. 

Last week we were encouraged to move forward in mental acquirements and oratorical qualifications.  This week we are firstly urged to move forward in moral qualifications.  We are told to:
(i) put away self-indulgence;
(ii) put away self-importance;
(iii) have our tempers well under restraint;
(iv) conquer our tendency to levity;
(v) avoid everything like the ferocity of bigotry;
(vi) have integrity of spirit;
(vii) possess the grand moral character of courage;
(viii) be gifted with an unconquerable zeal;
(ix) excel in the power of concentrating all your forces upon the work to which you are called.

Next Spurgeon teaches us to go forward in spiritual qualifications.  We must:
(i) know ourselves;
(ii) know man, in Christ, and out of Christ;
(iii) know him who is the sure remedy for all human diseases;
(iv) be conformed to our Lord.

Then Spurgeon tells us to go forward in actual work: do something!

Lastly we are encouraged to go forward in the matter of the choice of your sphere or action.  Spurgeon here places particular emphasis on considering international missions.

What grabbed me
After just spending Christmas overeating, it was good to be reminded to have self-control: 'Self-indulgence has slain its thousands. Let us tremble lest we perish by the hands of this Delilah. Let us have every passion and habit under due restraint; if we are not masters of ourselves, we are not fit to be leaders in the Church of Christ.'

If I expect people to take me seriously when I preach on self-control, I must exhibit it in my own body.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 3 (Individuality, and its opposite).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.