Only a prayer meeting by Charles Spurgeon (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the chapters entitled 'An interruption improved' and 'Fishing'.
Firstly Spurgeon gives advice on how not to be distracted by interruptions to prayer. We should arouse the emotions of:
(i) sympathy;
(ii) gratitude.
Secondly Spurgeon delves into the subject of fishing to draw out illustrations for evangelism. We are given advice on how to use:
(i) gathering bait;
(ii) catching bait;
(iii) nets.
The fishing chapter was just good fun.
I liked the description of this type of 'fish': 'Our captain, one evening, when we were in a very lovely bay, came up to me, and said, " Look at this; I only just threw the line over the side, and this fine cod has taken the bait in a minute." A cod is noted for the thorough manner in which it swallows the bait. Being of a hungry nature, it is not in a picking humour, but feeds heartily. I remarked, at the time, that the cod was like earnest hearers who are hungering for Divine grace, and so greedily snatch at the Sacred Word. Hungering and thirsting, their souls faint within them; and when the promise of the Gospel is placed before them, they seize it directly. Tell them of Jesus, and full deliverance through His precious blood, they do not make two bites of the gracious message,—they dash at it, and they are not content till they have it, and it holds them fast. Oh, for more of such hearers!'
Yes, sadly such 'cod-like' hearers are all too rare.
Next week's reading
Read the chapters entitled 'Trespassers, beware!' and 'The silent steam-roller'.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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