"And He said to them, "It is written, My House shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.'" Matthew 21:13 (NKJV)
November 2007
Three Spheres of PrayerCharles Spurgeon had a high view of prayer in every sphere of Christian life - Private, Family and Church (Public prayer). Addressing them in reverse order, he said the following concerning the importance of prayer in the church: We shall never see much change for the better in our churches in general until the prayer meeting occupies a higher place in the esteem of Christians... Prayer is the breath of faith and Prayer Meetings are the lungs of the church...
Prayer meetings are the throbbing machinery of the church. His belief in corporate prayer was so strong that he often had more than a hundred people praying in the church basement while he preached to thousands in the sanctuary. Would that this could be said about RBC!
What about family prayer? A close friend of Spurgeon’s commented on his prayer life, “His public prayers were an inspiration, but his prayers with the family were to me more wonderful still. Mr. Spurgeon, when bowed before God in family prayer, appeared a grander man even than when holding thousands spellbound by his oratory” Mrs. Spurgeon remembered, At the tea-table, the conversation was bright, witty, and always interesting; and after the meal was over, an adjournment was made to the study for family worship, and it was at these seasons that my beloved’s prayers were remarkable for their tender child-likeness, their spiritual pathos, and their intense devotion. He seemed to come as near to God as a little child to a loving father, and we were often moved to tears as he talked thus face to face with his Lord. What a heritage we Christian men would leave if those who know us best (our wives, children and friends) could say such things about us!
Of private prayer Spurgeon said: I know of no better thermometer of your spiritual temperature than this, the measure of the intensity of your prayer...neglect of private prayer is like a locust which devours the strength.... He believed in the power of prayer: All hell is vanquished when the believer bows his knee in importunate supplication. Beloved brethren, let us pray. We cannot all argue, but we can all pray; we cannot all be leaders, but we can all be pleaders; we cannot all be mighty in rhetoric, but we can all be prevalent in prayer. I would sooner see you eloquent with God than with men. Prayer links us with the Eternal, the Omnipotent, the Infinite, and hence it is our chief resort. . . . Be sure that you are with God, and then you may be sure that God is with you. Are you much with God?
These comments by Spurgeon are helpful, but what does the Lord of the church say about prayer in the church? My house shall be called a house of prayer (Mat. 21:13). What does He say about family prayers? And these words which I command you this day shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children...(Deut. 6:6ff - prayer implied). What does He say about private prayer? And when you pray go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place... ( Mat. 6:7).
Here is godly instruction from the Prince of Preacher and more importantly from the Prince of Peace - Almighty God. Are we ready and willing to learn?
March 2007
The Mustard Seed
Learning Christ.
Not long ago a friend gave me a book by the Puritan Thomas Watson titled: The Art of Divine Contentment. It is a series of sermons preached in 1652-1653 from Paul's words to the church at Philippi: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Phil. 4:11; KJV).
Watson opens his study with the following remarks which I have paraphrased for brevity and to remove the archaisms of his day: "There is a great dishonor done to God and a great deal of judgment to ourselves by the sin of discontentment...Discontent is to the soul what disease is to the body...It is a universal and epidemic sin and has no place in the life of a Christian because the Christian has all the promises of God to rely upon and sustain him. Thus, contentment ought to reveal itself in a life that is gracious and content with all thing God chooses to bestow. For my part, I do not know of any attribute that more adorns a Christian or that glitters in the eye of God...I know that there will never be perfect contentment in this life. perfect pleasure is only at God's right hand, yet we may begin here to tune our instrument before we play the sweet note of contentment more fully in heaven."
Watson then proceeds to expound on the text by breaking it up into individual clauses, the first one being I have learned. The key to contentment, says Watson, "is that one must learn Christ." This is different from knowing about Christ or even knowing Christ in a saving way. "A man may know much about Christ but not know Him, even less have learned Him - the devils know Christ (Mark 1:34). A man may preach Christ and not know him or learn Him, such was Judas. A person may know Christ and yet be discontent, such was Martha (Luke 10:40-42). A person may make a public profession of Christ and yet not have learned Christ (Mat. 7:22-23)." Watson then asks the important question: "What is it then, to learn Christ?" He answers:
"To learn Christ is to be made like Christ, when the divine characters of his holiness are engraved upon our hearts - "we all with open face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image" (2 Cor. 3:18). There is, says Watson, "a metamorphosis: a sinner who sees Christ is transformed into His image. No man ever looked upon Christ with a spiritual eye and went away unchanged. A saint is a divine landscape or picture where all the beauties of Christ are displayed. He has the same Spirit as Christ. To learn Christ is to believe in him as 'My Lord and My God' (John 20:28). To learn Christ is to live like Christ in biblical conduct. When we do, our lives, like diamonds, cast a sparkle and a luster in the church...'"
Writing to Timothy Paul said godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim. 6:6). To be content we must be godly. To be content we must know Christ and have learned Him. How much we have learned Christ can be measured by how content we are.
Learning together,
In Calvary’s bond,
Pastor Ron
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