Required reading
Lectures to my students by Charles Spurgeon (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 1 (The Holy Spirit in connection with our ministry).
My summary
Now we begin the second work in Spurgeon's series by reading about the role of the Holy Spirit in our ministry.
Firstly Spurgeon teaches us that the Spirit aids us in:
(i) knowledge;
(ii) wisdom;
(iii) utterance;
(iv) delivery;
(v) producing an effect from the gospel;
(vi) supplication;
(vii) holiness;
(viii) discernment.
Secondly Spurgeon explains that we may lose the Holy Spirit's help through a want of:
(i) sensitiveness;
(ii) truthfulness;
(iii) grace;
(iv) laziness.
Thirdly Spurgeon encourages us to consider what may happen if the Spirit of God departs from us by looking at:
(i) Saul;
(ii) the sons of Sceva;
(iii) Balaam;
(iv) the deceived prophet in the days of Jeroboam;
(v) Samson;
(vi) Moses.
What grabbed me
Spurgeon was indeed a remarkable man: 'I once counted eight sets of thoughts which were going on in my brain simultaneously, or at least within the space of the same second. I was preaching the gospel with all my might, but could not help feeling for a lady who was evidently about to faint, and also looking out for our brother who opens the windows that he might give us more air. I was thinking of that illustration which I had omitted under the first head, casting the form of the second division, wondering if A felt my rebuke, and praying that B might get comfort from the consoling observation, and at the same time praising God for my own personal enjoyment of the truth I was proclaiming.'
A most extraordinary example of the Holy Spirit's power!
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 2 (The necessity of ministerial progress).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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