Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 29, 2011

                                                                                            Invitation to Pray

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

                                                                              ~ Jeremiah 33:3

  "God encourages us to pray. In this verse Jehovah distinctly promises to answer the prayer of His servant. He that made the ear, shall He not hear? He that gave parents a love to their children, will He not listen to the  cries of His own sons and daughters?

  God will answer His pleading people in their anguish. He has wonders in store for them. What they have never seen, heard of, or dreamed of, He will do for them. He will invent new blessings if needful. He will ransack sea and land to feed them: He will send every angel out of heaven to comfort them, if their distress requires it. He will astound us with His grace. All He asks of us is that we will call upon Him. Let us cheerfully render Him our prayers at once."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 28, 2011

                                                                                      One Look from the Lord!

The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?"

                                                                                     ~ Judges 6:14

The Holy Spirit upon us giving us

strength to fight this raging battle!

  "What a look was that which the Lord gave to Gideon! He looked him out of his discouragement into a holy bravery. Lord, look on me this day!
  Jehovah spoke to Gideon, "Go." He must not hesitate. Gideon might have answered, "What, go in all this weakness?" But the Lord said, "Go in this might of yours." The Lord had looked might into him, and he had now nothing to do but to use it and save Israel by smiting the Midianites. Maybe the Lord has more to do by me than I ever dreamed of. If He has looked upon me, He has made me strong.

The Lord at battle with us!

  What a question is that which the Lord puts to me, even as He put it to Gideon! "Have not I sent you?" Yes, Lord, You have sent me and I will go in strength. At Your command I go; and You will conquer."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 27, 2011

                                                                                    Thank Him and Dwell Acceptably

Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.

                                                                                ~ Psalm 140:13

  "May my heart be upright, and may I always be able to bless the name of the Lord! He is so good to those that are good. Perhaps, for a moment, the righteous are staggered when their integrity results in severe trial; but the day shall come when they shall bless their God that they did not yield to evil or adopt a shifty policy. In the long run, true men will thank God for leading them by a right way.
  What a promise is implied in this second clause, "The upright shall dwell in Your presence!" They shall stand accepted where others appear only to be condemned. They shall be favored ones upon whom Jehovah smiles and with whom He graciously communes.

  Lord, I covet this high honor, this precious privilege. Make me in all things upright, that I may today, and every day, stand in Your heavenly presence."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 26, 2011

                                                                                              It Will Not Be Long

You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

                                                                                      ~ James 5:8

  "Among the last words of the Apocalypse we read, "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' to which the heavenly Bridegroom answers, `Surely I come quickly.'" Love longs for the glorious appearing of the Lord, and enjoys this sweet promise, "The coming of the Lord is at hand." We look out with hope through this window.

  This sacred "window of agate" lets in a flood of light upon the present and puts us into fine condition for immediate work or suffering. Are we tried? Are we growing weary because we do not see the harvest of our seed-sowing? This glorious truth cries to us, "Be patient." Before long the Lord will be here, so establish your hearts. Be firm, be constant, abounding in the work of the Lord. Soon will you hear the trumpets that announce the coming of your King. Hold the fort, for He is coming; He may appear this very day."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 25, 2011

                                                                                             A Staircase to Heaven

He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of  God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

                                                                                          ~ John 1:51

  "Yes, to our faith this sight is plain even today. Jesus Himself has opened heaven to all believers. We gaze into the place of mystery and glory, for He has revealed it to us.
  Now we see the explanation of Jacob's ladder. Between earth and heaven, there is a holy commerce: prayer ascends, and answers come down by the way of Jesus, the Mediator. In Him a stairway of light now furnishes a clear passage to the throne of the Most High. Let us use it, and send up by it the messengers of our prayers. We shall live the angelic life ourselves if we run up to heaven in intercession, and lay hold upon the blessings of the4 covenant, and then descend again to scatter those gifts among the sons of men.
  This is Your promise, O Lord Jesus; let us joyfully see it fulfilled."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 24, 2011

                                                                                              The Lord's "Much More"

Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?" And the man  of God answered, "The Lord is able to give you much more than this."

                                                                           ~ 2 Chronicles 25:9

  "The Lord can give you much more than you are likely to lose. The king of Judah had hired an army from Israel, and he was commanded to send home the fighting men because the Lord was not with them. He was willing to send away the host, only he grudged paying the hundred talents for nothing. Oh, for shame! If the Lord will give the victory without the hirelings, surely it was a good bargain to pay their wages and to be rid of them.

  Be willing to lose money for conscience's sake, for peace's sake, for Christ's sake. Rest assured that losses for the Lord are not losses. Even in this life they are more than recompensed. As to our immortal life, what we lose for Jesus is invested in heaven. Fret not at apparent disaster but listen to the whisper, "The Lord is able to give you much more than this."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 23, 2011

                                                                                            The Enemy Frustrated

Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: "He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor build a siege mound against it."

                                                                                    ~ 2 Kings 19:32

  "Although Sennacherib boasted loudly, he could not carry out his threats against the city. The Lord is able to stop the enemies of His people in the very act. When the lion has the lamb between his jaws, the great Shepherd of the sheep can rob him of his prey. Our extremity only provides an opportunity for a grander display of divine power and wisdom.

  In the case before us, the terrible foe did not put in an appearance before the city that he thirsted to destroy. No arrow could he shoot over the walls, no shields could he put to work to batter down the castles, and no mounds could he cast up to shut in  the inhabitants. Perhaps in our case also, the Lord will prevent our adversaries from doing us the least harm. Let us trust in the Lord and keep His way, and He will take care of us."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 22, 2011

                                                                                            He with Us, We with Him 

The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.

                                                                             ~ Proverbs 10:27

  "There is no doubt about it. The fear of the Lord leads to virtuous habits, and these prevent that waste of life that comes of sin and vice. The holy rest, which springs out of faith in the Lord Jesus, also greatly helps a man when he is ill. Every physician rejoices to have a patient whose mind is fully at ease. Worry kills, but confidence in God is like healing medicine.
  We have therefore all the arrangements for long life; if it be really for our good, we shall see a good age. Let us not be overcome with sudden expectation of death the moment we have a finger ache.

This boy here was dying. Jesus

saw what was going on, and with

His faith in His Father, the boy

was healed instantly, and came out

of the coma that he was in and sat

up and thanked Jesus for healing

him. Jesus said it was not I who

healed you, but My Father who is

in Heaven. 

  And what if we should soon be called to the higher sphere? Certainly there would be nothing to deplore in such a summons, but everything to rejoice in.
  The truest lengthening of life is to live while we live, wasting no time, but using every hour for the highest ends. So be it this day."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 21, 2011

                                                                                 A Woman's War

                                                      The Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.

                                                                                      ~ Judges 4:9

  "Rather an unusual text, but there may be souls in the world that may have faith enough to grasp it. Barak, the man, though called to the war, had little stomach for the fight unless Deborah would go with him, and so the Lord determined to make it a woman's war. By this means He rebuked the slackness of the man, and gained for Himself the more renown, and cast the more shame upon the enemies of His people.

God chose a woman for this war, because

our faith is more stronger than a man's

faith is when it comes to spiritual warfare.

Because we believe that the Power of Prayer

believing in faith anything is possible, where

man doubts his faith a lot. A woman is

usually the first to answer God's call when He

needs us for something.

  The Lord can still use feeble instruments. Why not me? He may use persons who are not commonly called to great public engagements. Why not you? The woman who slew the enemy of Israel was just a wife who tarried in her tent. She was no orator, but a woman who milked the cows and made butter. May not the Lord use any one of us to accomplish His purpose?"
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 20, 2011

                                                                                    The Lord Is Our Companion

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

                                                                                     ~ Psalm 23:4

AGONIES OF DEATH

  "Although many have repeated these words in their last hours with intense delight, they are equally applicable to agonies of spirit in the midst of life.

VALLEY OF DEATH

  Some of us, like Paul, die daily through a tendency to gloom of soul. Some of us have traversed the dark and dreadful defile of "the shadow of death" several times, and we can bear witness that the Lord alone enabled us to bear up amid its wild thought, its mysterious horrors, and its terrible depressions. We have been pressed and oppressed, but yet we have lived, for we have felt the presence of the Great Shepherd and have been confident that His crook would prevent the foe from giving us any deadly wound.
  Should the present time be one darkened by the raven wings of a great sorrow, let us glorify God by a peaceful trust in Him.
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 19, 2011

                                                                                                           A  Sound Heart

Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, that I may no be ashamed.

                                                                                   ~ Psalm 119:80

A SOUND HEART

  "This inspired prayer contains the assurance that those who keep close to the Word of God shall never have cause to be ashamed of doing so.
  See, the prayer is for soundness of heart. A sound creed is good, a sound judgment concerning it is better, but a sound heart toward the truth is best of all. We must love the truth, feel the truth, and obey the truth.

  Many will be ashamed in the last great day; they will see their folly and be filled with remorse because of their proud infidelity and willful defiance of the Lord. But he who believed what the Lord taught, and did what the Lord commanded, will stand forth, justified in what he did. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun.
  Let us pray the prayer of our text, and we may be sure that its promise will be fulfilled to us."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 18, 2011

                                                                God Himself Shall Work

"Now I will rise," says the Lord; "Now I will be exalted, now I will lift Myself up."
                                                                                      ~ Isaiah 33:10

  "When the spoilers had made the land as waste as if devoured by locusts, and the warriors who had defended the country sat  down and wept, then the Lord came to the rescue. God is exalted in the midst of an afflicted people, for they seek His face and trust Him.

  Is it a day of sorrow with us? Let us expect to see the Lord gloried in our deliverance. Are we drawn out in  fervent prayer? Do we cry day and night unto Him? Then the time for His grace is near. God will lift up Himself at the right season. He will arise when it will be most for the display of His glory. We wish for His glory more than we long for our own deliverance. Let the Lord be exalted, and our chief desire is obtained.
  Lord, may we magnify You because You are a good and great God."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 17, 2011

                                                                             Our Field of Battle

The Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

                                                                          ~ Deuteronomy 20:4

  "Our only enemies are the enemies of God. Our fights are not against men, but against spiritual wickedness. We war with the devil and the blasphemy and despair that he brings into the field of battle, as well as with the armies of sin. With these we contend earnestly with spiritual weapons.
  God abhors evil and, therefore, He goes with us to fight for us in this crusade. He will save us, and He will give us grace to win the victory. Depend upon it that if we are on God's side, God is on our side. With such an ally the outcome is never doubtful. Might lies with the Father who is Almighty, with Jesus who has all power in heaven and in  earth, and with the Holy Spirit who works His will among men.
  Soldiers of Christ, put on your armor. Let not this day pass without striking a blow for Jesus."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 16, 2011

                                                              Possess, Not Only Profess

          "Whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance."

                                                                            ~ Matthew 13:12

  "When the Lord has given to a man much grace, He will give him more. A little faith is a nest egg; more faith will come to it. But then it must not be seeming faith, but real and true.

  Blessed be the Lord, when He has once made a beginning, He will continue bestowing the grace of His Spirit, till He who had but little is made to have abundance. Abundance of grace is a thing to be coveted. It would be delightful to have abundance of skill to serve God, but better to have abundance of faith to trust in the Lord for skill and everything.

  Lord, since You have given me a sense of sin, deepen my hatred of evil. Since You have caused me to trust Jesus, raise my faith to full assurance. Since You have made me to love You, cause me to be carried away with love for You!"

(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 15, 2011

                                                          Home Blessings Extended

The Lord bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

                                                                                    ~ Psalm 128:5

Jesus talking with
God's children

  "This is a promise to the God-fearing man who walks in the ways of holiness. He shall have domestic blessedness; his wife and children shall be a source of great happiness. But then as a member of the church, he desires to see the cause prosper, for he is as much concerned for the Lord's house as for his own. When the Lord builds our house, it is but fitting that we should desire to see the Lord's house built.
  You shall get a blessing when you go up to the assemblies of Zion. You shall be instructed, enlivened, and comforted where prayer and praise ascend and testimony is borne to the Great Sacrifice.

Jerusalem the city
of God's Kingdom

  Nor shall you alone be profited. The church itself shall prosper, believers shall be multiplied, and their holy work shall be crowned with success. Let us be among those who bring good things to Jerusalem all their days."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 14, 2011

                                                               He Constantly Abides

The Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.

                                                                                  ~ 1 Samuel 12:22

  "God's choice of His people is the reason for His abiding by them and not forsaking them. He chose them for His love, and He loves them for His choice. It would dishonor His great name for Him to forsake them; since it would either show that He made an error in His choice or that He was fickle in His love. God's love has this glory, that it never changes; and this glory He will never tarnish.
  By all the memories of the Lord's former lovingkindness, let us rest assured that He will not forsake us. He, who has gone so far as to make us His people, will not undo the creation of His grace. He has not wrought such wonders for us that He might leave us after all. Our Lord Jesus is no changeable Lover. Having loved His own, He loves them to the end."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 13, 2011

                                                             Divine Cultivation

"I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day."
                                                                                       ~ Isaiah 27:3

  "When the Lord Himself speaks, the word has a peculiar weight. It is Jehovah Himself who is the keeper of His own vineyard; He does not trust it to any other, but He makes it His own personal care. Are they not well kept whom God Himself keeps?
  We are to receive gracious watering not only every day and every hour, but "every moment." How we should grow! How fresh and fruitful every plant should be!
  But disturbers come, foxes and boars. Therefore, the Lord Himself is our Guardian, both "night and day." What, then, can harm us? He tends, He waters, He guards; what more do we need?

  Twice in this verse the Lord says, "I will." What truth, what power, what love is in this! If He says, "I will," what room is there for doubt? With an "I will" of God, we can face all the hosts of sin, death, and hell."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 12, 2011

                                                                       Dwelling Safely Apart

Then Israel shall dwell in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone, in a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew.

                                                                      ~ Deuteronomy 33:28

  "The more we dwell alone, the safer shall we be. God would have His people separate from sinners. A worldly Christian is spiritually diseased. Those who compromise with Christ's enemies may be reckoned with them.
  Our safety lies not in making terms with the enemy, but in dwelling alone with our Best Friend. If we do this, we shall dwell in safety, despite the sarcasms and the sneers of the world. We shall be safe from its influences, unbelief, pride, vanity, and filthiness.

  The Lord brought Abram from Ur of the Chaldees, but he stopped halfway. Therefore, Abram had no blessing till, having set out to go to the land of Canaan, to the land of Canaan he came. He was safe alone even in the midst of foes. Lot was not safe in Sodom though in a circle of friends. Our safety is in dwelling apart with God."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 11, 2011

                                                                      No Cause to Blush

                                          "Do not fear,  for you will not be ashamed."

                                                                                                  ~ Isaiah 54:4

  "We shall not be ashamed of our faith. Critics may assail the Scriptures upon which we ground our belief, but every year the Lord will make it more and more clear that in His Book there is no error, no excess, and no omission. It is no discredit to be a simple believer: the faith that looks alone to Jesus is a crown of honor on any man's head.
  We shall not be ashamed of our hope. Our Lord will come, and then the days of our mourning shall be ended. How we shall glory in the Lord who first gave us lively hope, and then gave us what we hoped for!

  We shall not be ashamed of our love. Jesus is altogether lovely, and never shall we have to blush because we yielded our hearts to Him. The lovers of Jesus shall find themselves honored by all holy beings."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 10, 2011

                                                                A Shepherd Secures Them

They shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.

                                                                                ~ Zephaniah 3:13

  "Yesterday we thought of the afflicted and poor people whom the Lord left to be a living seed in a dead world. The prophet says of such that they shall not work iniquity nor speak lies.
  What then? Would they be destroyed for their lack of weapons, in which the wicked place so much reliance? By no means! They should both feed and rest, and be free from danger. Sheep are very feeble creatures, and wolves are terrible enemies; yet at this hour, sheep are more numerous than wolves, and the cause of the sheep is always winning, while the cause of the wolves is always declining.

  One day flocks of sheep will cover the plains, and not one wolf will be left. The fact is that sheep have a shepherd, and this gives them protection, and peace. Who shall terrify the Lord's flock when He is near?"
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 9, 2011

                                                                    A Trustworthy Name

"I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord."

                                                                                ~ Zephaniah 3:12

  "When true religion is ready to die out among the wealthy it finds a home among the poor of this world, rich in faith. The Lord has even now His faithful remnant. Am I one of them?
  Perhaps it is because men are afflicted and poor that they learn to trust in the name of the Lord. He whose own name is good for nothing in his own esteem, acts wisely to rest in another name, the name of Jehovah. Little as the world thinks of poor people, they bring untold blessings, for they are the conserving salt that keeps in check the corruption in the world.

  Again the question: am I one of them? Do I trust in the Lord? Jesus reveals the name, the character, the person of God: am I trusting in Him? If so, I am left in this world for a purpose. Lord, help me to fulfill it."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgeon)

June 8, 2011

                                                                        Wisdom for the Asking

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
                                                                                          ~ James 1:5

  "If any of you lack wisdom. There is no "if" in the matter, for I am sure I lack it. What do I know? How can I guide my own way? How can I direct others? Lord, I am a mass of folly, and wisdom I have none.
  You say, "Let him ask of God." Lord, I now ask. Here at Your footstool, I ask to be furnished with heavenly wisdom for this day's perplexities and simplicities; for I know I may do very stupid things even in plain matters, unless You keep me out of mischief.

  I have only to pray in faith, and You will give me wisdom! Lord, I thank You for that positive and expressive word, "It will be given him." I believe it. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterwards, receive me to glory."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)