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

May 7, 2011

                                                               Let No Evil Remain

None of the accursed things shall remian in your hand, that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of His anger and show you mercy, have compassion on you and multiply you, just as He swore to your fathers.

                                                                         ~ Deuteronomy 13:17

ISRAEL

  "Israel must conquer idolatrous cities and destroy all the spoil, regarding all that had been polluted by idolatry as an accursed thing to be burned with fire. Now, sin of all sorts must be treated by Christians in the same manner. We must not allow a single evil habit to remain. We regard this as a fruit of the grace of God, which we should on no account miss.

  When we multiply our efforts against iniquity, the Lord multiplies our blessings. The way of peace, of growth, of safety, of joy in Christ Jesus will be found by following out these words, "None of the accursed things shall remain in your hand." Lord, purify me this day. Compassion, prosperity, increase, and joy will surley be given to those who put away sin with solemn resolution."

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

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

May 6, 2011

                                                                              Cure for Envy

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.

                                                                           ~ Proverbs 23:17-18

  "When we see the wicked prosper we are apt to envy them and think that they have the best of it. This is foolish and sinful. If we knew them better, and especially if we remembered their end, we would pity them.

The cure for envy lies in living under a constant sense of the divine presence, worshiping God, and communing with Him all the day long. True religion lifts the soul into a higher region. The more of heaven there is in our lives, the less of earth we shall covet. The fear of God casts out envy.

The deathblow of envy is a calm consideration of the future. What is the prosperous sinner the better for his prosperity when judgment overtakes him? As for the godly man, his end is peace and blessedness, and none can rob him of his joy; therefore, let him forego envy and be filled with sweet content."

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

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

May 5, 2011

                                                                   Why Remain Captive?

         The Lord your God will bring you back from captivity.

                                                                       ~ Deuteronomy 30:3

  "What a bondage it is when a child of God is held in chains by Satan, robbed of his power in prayer and his delight in the Lord!

  If this has already happened, do not despair - we cannot be held in slavery forever. The Lord has paid too high a price for our redemption to leave us in the enemy's hand. The way to freedom is to return to the Lord. Where we first found salvation, we shall find it again. At the foot of Christ's cross confessing sin, we shall find pardon and deliverance. Moreover, the Lord will have us obey all that He has commanded us, and we must do this with all our heart and all our soul, and then our captivity shall end.

  Often depression and misery are removed as soon as we quit our idols and bow ourselves in obedience before the living God. Lord, save us from captivity!"

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

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

May 4, 2011

                                                                          Victory in Distress

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.

                                                                                      ~ Micah 7:8

  "This may express the feeling of a man or woman downtrodden and oppressed. Our enemy may put out our light for a season, but if we are trusting in the Lord and holding fast our integrity, our season of downcasting and darkness will soon be over. The insults of the foe are only for a moment. The Lord will soon turn their laughter into lamentation, and our sighing into singing.

  What if the great enemy of souls should for a while triumph over us, as he has triumphed over better men than us, yet let us take heart, for we shall overcome him before long. We shall rise from our fall, for our God has not fallen, and He will lift us up. We shall not abide in darkness, although for the moment we sit in it, for our Lord is the fountain of light, and He will soon bring us a joyful day."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

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

May 3, 2011

                                                                       Listen for the Signal

It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.
                                                                                 ~ 2 Samuel 5:24

  "There are signs of the Lord's moving which should move us. Then is the time for us to be more than ever astir. It is ours to fight the Philistines at all times; but when the Lord Himself goes out before us, we should be especially valiant in the war.
  The breeze stirred the tops of the trees, and David and his men took this to signal an onslaught; and at their advance, the Lord Himself smote the Philistines. Today may the Lord give us an opening to speak for Him with our friends! Let us be on the watch to avail ourselves of the hopeful opening when it comes.

GOD'S HANDS REACHING
OUT OF HEAVEN TO SIGNAL
US TO ADVANCE AHEAD.

  This may be a day of good tidings; a season of soul winning. Let us keep our ear open to hear the rustle of the wind, and our minds ready to obey the signal. Since the Lord goes before us, we dare not hold back."
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

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

May 2, 2011

                                                                              Spiritual Sowing

He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
                                                                               ~ Galatians 6:8

  "Sowing looks like a losing business; we put corn into the ground never to see it again. Yet if we sow to the Spirit by studying to live unto God, seeking to obey His will, and promoting His honor, we shall not sow in vain. Life shall be our reward, even everlasting life. This we enjoy here as we enter into knowledge of God, communion with God, and enjoyment of God. This life flows on like an ever-deepening river till it bears us to the ocean of infinite felicity, where the life of God is ours forever.

  Let us not sow to our flesh, for the harvest will be corruption, but let us live for the highest, purest, and most spiritual ends, seeking to honor the Lord by obeying His most gracious Spirit. What a harvest will that be when we reap life everlasting! What sheaves of endless bliss will be reaped!"
(By: Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)

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

May 1, 2011

                                                                                          Full of Song

The mountains and the Hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
                                                                                       ~ Isaiah 55:12

  "When sin is pardoned, our greatest sorrow ends, and our truest pleasure begins. Such is the joy that the Lord bestows upon His reconciled ones that it overflows and fills all nature with delight. The material world has latent music in it, and a renewed heart knows how to bring it out and make it vocal. Mountains and hills are the bass of the chorus, while the trees of the wood and all things that have life take up the air of the melodious song.

 When God's Word is made to prosper among us, and souls are saved, then everything seems full of song. Then it seems as if rocks and hills, and woods and fields echoed our joy-notes and turned the world into an orchestra. Lord, on this happy May day, lead me out into Your tuneful world as rich in praise as a lark in full song."

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