GOD’S WORD FOR OCTOBER 2

We are using Charles Spurgeon book, “The Risen King.”  It’s a collection of well chosen excerpts from Spurgeon’s  “Easter” sermons in devotional form, put together by Jeff Medders.   Pastor Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892  in London, England, and had a unique gift of understanding and showing the depth of our faith.  Thus, his reverential title as the Prince of Preachers.   Even though we’re not in or near that season, every day is a good day to focus on Christ’s sacrifice and victory for us!

PETER’S SHORT PRAYER

MATTHEW 14:28-33

“And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”   So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”    And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

As long as you have a heart to pray, God has an ear to hear.  Look at Peter:  he is “beginning to sink.”  The water is up to his knees; it is up to his waist;   it is up to his neck;   but it is not yet too late for him o cry, “Lord save me.”  And he has no sooner said it than the hand of Jesus stretches out to catch him.  So, Christian, cry to God, though the devil tells you it is no use.  I cannot help feeling that Peter’s short and simple prayer was uttered most naturally.  Peter was in too great a peril to put any fine language into his prayer.  He was too conscious of his danger;  he just expressed the strong desire of his soul in the simplest manner possible:  “Lord, save me.”  Then that prayer was heard, and Peter was saved from drowning.

Where did Peter pray this prayer?  It was not in a place set apart for public worship nor in his usual place for private prayer, but he prayed as he was sinking in the water.  He was in great peril, so he cried out, “Lord save me.”  It is good to assemble with God’s people for prayer if you can, but if you cannot, it matters little, for prayer can ascend to Him from anywhere, all over the world.  It is good to have a special spot where you pray at home – at the same time, we must never allow ourselves to become the slaves of even such a good habit as that, and we must always remember that, if we really want to find the Lord by prayer, as one poet said:

“Wherever we seek him, He is found,

And every place is hallowed ground.”

Friends, it is good to have regular hours for devotion and to resort to the same place for prayer as far as possible, but still, the spirit of prayer is better even than the habit of prayer.  It is better to be able to pray at all times than to make it a rule to pray at certain times and seasons.  A Christian is more fully grown in grace when he or she prays about everything than they would if they only prayed under certain conditions and circumstances.

I always feel that there is something wrong if I go without prayer for even half an hour in the day.  I cannot understand how a Christian can go from morning to evening without prayer.  I cannot comprehend how they fight the battle of life without asking for the guardian care of God while the arrows of temptation are flying so thickly around them.  I cannot imagine how they can decide what to do in times of perplexity, how they can see their own imperfections or the faults of others without feeling constrained to say, all day long, “O Lord, guide me.  O Lord, forgive me.  O Lord, bless my friend!:  I cannot think how they can be continually receiving mercies from the Lord without saying, “God be thanked for this new token of His grace!   Do not be content, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, unless you can pray everywhere and at all times and so obey the apostolic word, “Pray without ceasing.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Do you, dear friend, feel that you are not living as near to God as you once did?  Is the chilling influence of the world tell upon you?  Then pray, “Lord, save me.”  Have you fallen into some sin which you fear may bring disgrace upon your profession of faith?  Well then, before that sin grows greater, cry, “Lord, save me.”  It may comfort the reader that although this was the prayer of a man in trouble, and a man in whom there was a mixture of unbelief and faith, it succeeded.  Our imperfections and infirmities will not prevent prayer from speeding ahead, as long as it is sincere and earnest.

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1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Daniel 9:3-5

Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.  And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,  we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.

1 Samuel 1:10

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.

1 Samuel 12:23

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.

Philippians 1:4

always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,

Philippians 1:9

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

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