Charles Spurgeon Sermon Notes Vol. 1

 The Roaring Lion 1 Peter 5:8

• Satan was once an angel; perhaps even an archangel. The Christian will be attacked by Satan in one season or another.
• He is always seeking someone to devour-he wants to destroy God's people.
• We can't blame Satan for everything for sin grows in our hearts without the need of sowing.
• Satan usually attacks us when we are at our lowest because then his attack is most effective.
• His objective in his attacks: "worship me". Just as the same when he attacked Christ in the wilderness.
• In his attacks upon us, he wants to wed our sinful desires to his temptations.
• Some believe Satan to be a lie/doesn't exist. Usually, if a man have no Devil he has no God as well.
• Man's pain is the best testimony to Satan's existence.
• Those who are dead in sin know little of the attacks of Satan for they are dead; they are of no threat to him.
• The roaring of Satam: Persuctions-roaring till only the faithful of God stood firm before their death.
• Temptation: tempting us to sin against God. We conquer our sin by The Spirit. Blasphemy: thoughts against God and His holiness; possibly put there by Satan. We are to resist these unholy thoughts by the word of God and meditation thereof.
• Satan seeks total destruction/devouring of the believer. Our Savior wants nothing more than the complete salvation of the saints.
• We must not grow comfortable in our walk because then we stop relying on God and are, thus, at our weakest.
• The war with Satan is not ours's but God's-victory is in Him alone.
• Satan's attacks should drive us to prayer.
• To follow Christ is the grandest thing of existence.

 

How To Become Full of Joy 1 John 1:4

• Christ gave and gives us joy.
• A Christian's joy needs looking after, otherwise, we wouldn't need/want God's word.
• The pain, trials, temptations of this world proves the need of guarding our joy.
• When we are low we fall much like Peter.
• The Christian doesn't lose much in sin; save for his joy in God.
• John writes of our relationship to Christ, not of things of the world.
• Our joy is found in Christ and in Him alone.
• Everlasting love (loved by God Almighty) and communion (being with Him) cause us joy.
• Trials can help to take us away from the world.
• Foolish loves make rods for foolish backs.
• Fellowship with Christ is the fountain of our joy.
• Every command in the word is meant to help us in our joy. Illustration: "Don't touch the fire lest you be burned."
• God never denies children something that is truly for their good.
• His commends are rules for freedom in our walk with Christ.
• Loving man also makes us joyful.
• Holy activity is the mother of holy joy.
• Guard your joy with God's word-then the world things will lose their attraction.

 

Self-Examination 2 Corinthians 13:5

• The Corinthians were critical of Paul and his ministry.
• Paul called out the corinthians to see if they are in the faith. We should do the same today.
• Do I grow in grace?
• Examine what is in your heart. What is your motive for doing good works, going to church/studies, etc.?
• You believe the truth but are you in the truth?
• The belief that the Ark will float in the flood is good but when the flood comes are you in the Ark?
• Let us know where we are and what we are so that we may not be in false comfort or Christianity. Best to know now rather than later.
• In private life do you live without prayer or study? Do you have any love for God at all?
• If you are right with God then you could not live without prayer and study because you could not live without God.

 

Pleading (in prayer) Psalm 70:5

• David learned to pray and praise God best.
• The soul confesses urgently, the soul pleads-grasping for God. This is seen in Psalm 70:5.
• With both hands David lays hold of God and doesn't let Him go till a blessing is received.
• Similar to a wrestler taking off his clothes before entering the ring so we too must confess before God if we are to wrestle with Him in prayer.
• We are to confess before we can receive forgiveness.
• God knows our guilt; He wants us to know it as well; thus we confess to an all-knowing God.
• See sin as God sees sin-an offense against all that is good, a rebellion against all that is kind, a treason worthy of capital punishment.
• He is ready to forgive and loves to forgive! But He is never ready to tolerate sin. Confess and receive from God.
• 'I am poor and needy, lost, have pity on me' Paraphrase of Psalm 70:5. A statement on the sinful condition of all man.
• We are powerless in ministry. Salvation is of God, it is His business, we are just His instruments.
• God knows we are inadequate for His work. We must learn/know this as well.
• Pleading with God in prayer is the foundation of prayer. Plead the blood of the Lamb. Plead the Attributes of God-"You are just, and merciful, good and faithful O God..."
• You are a child of the Most High. Remember this and be bold in your prayers, in your pleading with God.
• Be honest, and earnest in prayer because it honors God.
• God to God in prayer. Don't leave until you have received what you've asked.
• Plead the performances of God- "You have delivered your saints in the past, deliver me also."
• Plead whatever you need for life, ministry, godly living.
• "Let me learn the art of pleading, of prayer."
• Be urgent in prayer! Our need for grace is grand.
• When our need for God is strong our blessing is close.
• We are licensed beggars/pleaders before God.
• It is never too late to seek God.
• We can do nothing without God.
• Prayer moves the arm that moves the world.
• Have God, hold and behold Him at all costs. For He is the most precious possession you could ever have.

 

True Prayer-True Power! Mark 11:24

• It is a blessed thing to draw near to God in prayer
• Look at the text, look around you, look above you. According to Jesus, there should be an object in which we plead.
• Earnest desire plays a role in our prayer. Our desires should lead us to prayer.
• Faith is essential in prayer-believe!
• Prepare yourself for prayer-examine yourself.
• Desire must be in your prayers. Lest prayer be a heavy burden on you.
• No general "blanket" prayers. Say people's names, state your needs before God!
• Express your wants/needs in the words that are natural to you.
• Pray to love God more.
• Submit to His divine will in your requests.
• Stop and pray each and every one of your petitions with God.
• Have faith in God! He has promised to hear our prayers.
• Plead the promises with passion and desire.
• Ask and believe that you will receive; take the Lord God at His word.
• Desire, ask, believe, wait to receive, trust God.
• Use your prayer time well; focus on God.
• God doesn't hear our prayer because of the length or language or songs or logic.
• He'll answer because we pray in the power of the Spirit in the name of Christ.
• Speak to God out of your own heart! Speak like a child to his father.
• Look to God. We have been given a mighty weapon to use! Don't let it rust.
• We will only triumph when we are kneeling.
• Look to God and weep for wasting such a powerful weapon.
• Look to God and rejoice for He loves us yet still.
• His ear is always open if you have an open mouth.
• His hand is ready for a ready heart.
• We must be born again to know this kind of prayer.

 

Heaven and Hell Matthew 8:11-12

• Verse 11 tells us what Heaven is. It is a place I can sit with the saints of both the OT and NT.
• If we have known one another here on Earth then we will also know one another there.
• Heaven is the fellowship of the saints.
• Be rit of your pride or you shall never enter Heaven.
• More will be in Heaven than in Hell, lest Satan beat Jesus. (Sidebar: a good defense of postmillennialism).
• Heaven will be full of the "worst of sinners".
• Nothing in Hell or on Earth can stop the Christ.
• What is written in the word must be preached!
• "weeping and gnashing of teeth" because of their own hatred of fellows in Hell and God in Heaven.
• If you don't have a heart for God now you'll surely have none then.
• To believe is to put your trust in Christ.
• God did not say "whosoever is good shall be saved." But "whosoever believes shall be saved."
• May we all meet in Heaven.

 

Strengthening Words From the Savior's Lips 2 Corinthians 12:9

• Paul prayed to Christ, thus, proof that Jesus is divine.
• It is natural when buffeted by Satan to trun to Jesus. Since Jesus casted demons in His ministry and experienced the tempations of Satan.
• God may not take the trail from you, but He'll strengthen you to get through it.
• Grace is all sufficient, strength perfected, power indwelling.
• "MY grace is sufficient" God is enough for us. His grace is enough for the whole Church.
• It is NOW sufficent for you! Past trials seem small, trials now are huge. It is not a new trouble. Christ's grace can/will comfort/strengthen you to exit, or endure the trial.
• You demand on God is never too much for Him.
• Look to God to supply your need; not man.
• God's strength is perfectly revealed in our weakness.
• Therefore, easy lives don't know God's strength.
• "made perfect" IE achieves its purpose.
• "Empty me. Let me discover the vainity of life."
• God will use ou when He empthies you of you.