<![CDATA[
<BODY TEXT="#000000" LINK="#ff0000" VLINK="#0000ff" BACKGROUND="offwhite1.jpg">
<P>
<CENTER>
<IMG SRC="fiery heading.gif" BORDER="0" width="288" height="192">
<P>
<IMG SRC="bible1.gif" BORDER="0" width="162" height="122">
<P>
(The purpose of these pages is to provide Biblical help for times of fiery
trials, tribulations, adversity, testing, trouble, and difficulty.)
<P>
<B><FONT SIZE=+2><BIG>Encouragement from Charles Spurgeon</BIG></FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<B><FONT SIZE=+1><BIG>(Part 2)</BIG></FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BIG><A HREF="spurgeon-fs.html" TARGET="_top">(Go to Part 1)</A></BIG>
<P>
<BIG>Charles Haddon Spurgeon was one of the greatest pastors and men of God
in the history of the Christian church. He died January 31, 1892 at the age
of 57. He had preached 38 years at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London.
He left us with many powerful writings in the form of sermons and commentaries.
Even though he has been with the Lord now for over 100 years, his words are
still profoundly impacting many, many lives. He also left us with some of
the most powerful devotional material that is available. You can probably
find these devotionals in a book called <I>Morning and Evening</I> in your
local Christian bookstore.</BIG>
<P>
<BIG>On this page, you will find excerpts from <I>Morning and Evening </I>which
are especially valuable for Christians who are going through tough times.
You will find tremendous strength and encouragement if you will take time
to read through these meditations carefully and prayerfully!</BIG>
<P>
<P>
<A NAME="top"> </A>
<UL>
<LI>
<B><A HREF="#sep1m"><BIG>September 1 Morning --Psalm 73:24</BIG></A></B>
<LI>
<B><A HREF="#sep1e"><BIG>September 1 Evening --Psalm 62:8</BIG></A></B>
<LI>
<B><A HREF="#sep3e"><BIG>September 3 Evening --Psalm 11:5</BIG></A></B>
<LI>
<B><A HREF="#sep5m"><BIG>September 5 Morning --Psalm 120:5</BIG></A></B>
<LI>
<B><A HREF="#sep12e"><BIG>September 12 Evening --Psalm 101:1</BIG></A></B>
<LI>
<B><A HREF="#sep13m"><BIG>September 13 Morning --Psalm 84:6</BIG></A></B>
<LI>
<B><A HREF="#sep14m"><BIG>September 14 Morning --Mark 4:36</BIG></A></B>
<LI>
<B><A HREF="#sep15m"><BIG>September 15 Morning --Psalm 112:7</BIG></A></B>
<LI>
<B><A HREF="#sep18e"><BIG>September 18 Evening --John 10:27</BIG></A></B>
<LI>
<B><A HREF="#sep19m"><BIG>September 19 Morning --Galatians
5:1</BIG></A></B>
</UL>
<P>
<BIG>
<HR>
</BIG>
<P>
<I><BIG>September 1 Morning</BIG></I>
<P>
<B><BIG>"Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to
glory." --Psalm 73:24</BIG></B>
<P>
<BIG>The Psalmist felt his need of divine guidance. He had just been discovering
the foolishness of his own heart, and lest he should be constantly led astray
by it, he resolved that God's counsel should henceforth guide him. A sense
of our own folly is a great step towards being wise, when it leads us to
rely on the wisdom of the Lord. The blind man leans on his friend's arm and
reaches home in safety, and so would we give ourselves up implicitly to divine
guidance, nothing doubting; assured that though we cannot see, it is always
safe to trust the all seeing God. "Thou shalt", is a blessed expression of
confidence. He was sure that the Lord would not decline the condescending
task. There is a word for thee, O believer; rest thou in it. Be assured that
thy God will be thy counsellor and friend; he shall guide thee; he will direct
all thy ways. In his written Word thou hast this assurance in part fulfilled,
for holy Scripture is his counsel to thee. Happy are we to have God's Word
always to guide us! What were the mariner without his compass? And what were
the Christian without the Bible? This is the unerring chart, the map in which
every shoal is described, and all the channels from the quicksands of destruction
to the haven of salvation mapped and marked by one who knows all the way.
Blessed be thou, O God, that we may trust thee to guide us now, and guide
us even to the end! After this guidance through life, the Psalmist anticipates
a divine reception at last--"and afterward receive me to glory." What a thought
for thee, believer! God himself will receive thee to glory--thee! Wandering,
erring, straying, yet he will bring thee safe at last to glory! This is thy
portion; live on it this day, and if perplexities should surround thee, go
in the strength of this text straight to the throne.</BIG>
<CENTER>
<A HREF="#top">(back to top)</A>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BIG>
<HR>
</BIG>
<P>
<I><BIG>September 1 Evening</BIG></I>
<P>
<B><BIG>"Trust in him at all times." --Psalm 62:8</BIG></B>
<P>
<BIG>Faith is as much the rule of temporal as of spiritual life; we ought
to have faith in God for our earthly affairs as well as for our heavenly
business. It is only as we learn to trust in God for the supply of all our
daily need that we shall live above the world. We are not to be idle, that
would show we did not trust in God, who worketh hitherto, but in the devil,
who is the father of idleness. We are not to be imprudent or rash; that were
to trust chance, and not the living God, who is a God of economy and order.
Acting in all prudence and uprightness, we are to rely simply and entirely
upon the Lord at all times.</BIG>
<P>
<BIG>Let me commend to you a life of trust in God in temporal things. Trusting
in God, you will not be compelled to mourn because you have used sinful means
to grow rich. Serve God with integrity, and if you achieve no success, at
least no sin will lie upon your conscience. Trusting God, you will not be
guilty of self-contradiction. He who trusts in craft, sails this way today,
and that way the next, like a vessel tossed about by the fickle wind; but
he that trusteth in the Lord is like a vessel propelled by steam, she cuts
through the waves, defies the wind, and makes one bright silvery straightforward
track to her destined haven. Be you a man with living principles within;
never bow to the varying customs of worldly wisdom. Walk in your path of
integrity with steadfast steps, and show that you are invincibly strong in
the strength which confidence in God alone can confer. Thus you will be delivered
from anxious care, you will not be troubled with evil tidings, your heart
will be fixed, trusting in the Lord. How pleasant to float along the stream
of providence! There is no more blessed way of living than a life of dependence
upon a covenant keeping God. We have no care, for he careth for us; we have
no troubles, because we cast our burdens upon the Lord.</BIG>
<CENTER>
<A HREF="#top">(back to top)</A>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BIG>
<HR>
</BIG>
<P>
<I><BIG>September 3 Evening</BIG></I>
<P>
<B><BIG>"The Lord trieth the righteous." --Psalm 11:5</BIG></B>
<P>
<BIG>All events are under the control of Providence; consequently all the
trials of our outward life are traceable at once to the great First Cause.
Out of the golden gate of God's ordinance the armies of trial march forth
in array, clad in their iron armour, and armed with weapons of war. All
providences are doors to trial. Even our mercies, like roses, have their
thorns. Men may be drowned in seas of prosperity as well as in rivers of
affliction. Our mountains are not too high, and our valleys are not too low
for temptations: trials lurk on all roads. Everywhere, above and beneath,
we are beset and surrounded with dangers. Yet no shower falls unpermitted
from the threatening cloud; every drop has its order ere it hastens to the
earth. The trials which come from God are sent to prove and strengthen our
graces, and so at once to illustrate the power of divine grace, to test the
genuineness of our virtues, and to add to their energy. Our Lord in his infinite
wisdom and superabundant love, sets so high a value upon his people's faith
that he will not screen them from those trials by which faith is strengthened.
You would never have possessed the precious faith which now supports you
if the trial of your faith had not been like unto fire. You are a tree that
never would have rooted so well if the wind had not rocked you to and fro,
and made you take firm hold upon the precious truths of the covenant grace.
Worldly ease is a great foe to faith; it loosens the joints of holy valour,
and snaps the sinews of sacred courage. The balloon never rises until the
cords are cut; affliction doth this sharp service for believing souls. While
the wheat sleeps comfortably in the husk it is useless to man, it must be
threshed out of its resting place before its value can be known. Thus it
is well that Jehovah trieth the righteous, for it causeth them to grow rich
towards God.</BIG>
<CENTER>
<A HREF="#top">(back to top)</A>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BIG>
<HR>
</BIG>
<P>
<I><BIG>September 5 Morning</BIG></I>
<P>
<B><BIG>"Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of
Kedar." --Psalm 120:5</BIG></B>
<P>
<BIG>As a Christian you have to live in the midst of an ungodly world, and
it is of little use for you to cry "Woe is me." Jesus did not pray that you
should be taken out of the world, and what he did not pray for, you need
not desire. Better far in the Lord's strength to meet the difficulty, and
glorify him in it. The enemy is ever on the watch to detect inconsistency
in your conduct; be therefore very holy. Remember that the eyes of all are
upon you, and that more is expected from you than from other men. Strive
to give no occasion for blame. Let your goodness be the only fault they can
discover in you. Like Daniel, compel them to say of you, "We shall not find
any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning
the law of his God." Seek to be useful as well as consistent. Perhaps you
think, "If I were in a more favourable position I might serve the Lord's
cause, but I cannot do any good where I am"; but the worse the people are
among whom you live, the more need have they of your exertions; if they be
crooked, the more necessity that you should set them straight; and if they
be perverse, the more need have you to turn their proud hearts to the truth.
Where should the physician be but where there are many sick? Where is honour
to be won by the soldier but in the hottest fire of the battle? And when
weary of the strife and sin that meets you on every hand, consider that all
the saints have endured the same trial. They were not carried on beds of
down to heaven, and you must not expect to travel more easily than they.
They had to hazard their lives unto the death in the high places of the field,
and you will not be crowned till you also have endured hardness as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ. Therefore, "stand fast in the faith, quit you like
men, be strong."</BIG>
<CENTER>
<A HREF="#top">(back to top)</A>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<HR>
</CENTER>
<P>
<I><BIG>September 12 Evening</BIG></I>
<P>
<B><BIG>"I will sing of mercy and judgment." --Psalm 101:1</BIG></B>
<P>
<BIG>Faith triumphs in trial. When reason is thrust into the inner prison,
with her feet made fast in the stocks, faith makes the dungeon walls ring
with her merry notes as she cries, "I will sing of mercy and of judgment.
Unto thee, O Lord, will I sing." Faith pulls the black mask from the face
of trouble, and discovers the angel beneath. Faith looks up at the cloud,
and sees that</BIG>
<P>
<BIG>'Tis big with mercy and shall break <BR>
In blessings on her head."</BIG>
<P>
<BIG>There is a subject for song even in the judgments of God towards us.
For, first, the trial is not so heavy as it might have been; next, the trouble
is not so severe as we deserved to have borne; and our affliction is not
so crushing as the burden which others have to carry. Faith sees that in
her worst sorrow there is nothing penal; there is not a drop of God's wrath
in it; it is all sent in love. Faith discerns love gleaming like a jewel
on the breast of an angry God. Faith says of her grief, "This is a badge
of honour, for the child must feel the rod"; and then she sings of the sweet
result of her sorrows, because they work her spiritual good. Nay, more, says
Faith, "These light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work out for
me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." So Faith rides forth
on the black horse, conquering and to conquer, trampling down carnal reason
and fleshly sense, and chanting notes of victory amid the thickest of the
fray.</BIG>
<P>
<BIG>"All I meet I find assists me <BR>
In my path to heavenly joy: <BR>
Where, though trials now attend me, <BR>
Trials never more annoy.</BIG>
<P>
<BIG>"Blest there with a weight of glory, <BR>
Still the path I'll ne'er forget, <BR>
But, exulting, cry, it led me <BR>
To my blessed Saviour's seat."</BIG>
<CENTER>
<A HREF="#top">(back to top)</A>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<HR>
</CENTER>
<P>
<I><BIG>September 13 Morning</BIG></I>
<P>
<B><BIG>"Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well, the rain
also filleth the pools." --Psalm 84:6</BIG></B>
<P>
<BIG>This teaches us that the comfort obtained by a one may often prove
serviceable to another; just as wells would be used by the company who came
after. We read some book full of consolation, which is like Jonathan's rod,
dropping with honey. Ah! we think our brother has been here before us, and
digged this well for us as well as for himself. Many a "Night of Weeping",
"Midnight Harmonies", an "Eternal Day", a " Crook in the Lot", a "Comfort
for Mourners", has been a well digged by a pilgrim for himself, but has proved
quite as useful to others. Specially we notice this in the Psalms, such as
that beginning, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" Travellers have been
delighted to see the footprint of man on a barren shore, and we love to see
the waymarks of pilgrims while passing through the vale of tears.</BIG>
<P>
<BIG>The pilgrims dig the well, but, strange enough, it fills from the top
instead of the bottom. We use the means, but the blessing does not spring
from the means. We dig a well, but heaven fills it with rain. The horse is
prepared against the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord. The means
are connected with the end, but they do not of themselves produce it. See
here the rain fills the pools, so that the wells become useful as reservoirs
for the water; labour is not lost, but yet it does not supersede divine
help.</BIG>
<P>
<BIG>Grace may well be compared to rain for its purity, for its refreshing
and vivifying influence, for its coming alone from above, and for the sovereignty
with which it is given or withheld. May our readers have showers of blessing,
and may the wells they have digged be filled with water! Oh, what are means
and ordinances without the smile of heaven! They are as clouds without rain,
and pools without water. O God of love, open the windows of heaven and pour
us out a blessing!</BIG>
<CENTER>
<A HREF="#top">(back to top)</A>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<HR>
</CENTER>
<P>
<I><BIG>September 14 Morning</BIG></I>
<P>
<B><BIG>"There were also with him other little ships." --Mark 4:36</BIG></B>
<P>
<BIG>Jesus was the Lord High Admiral of the sea that night, and his presence
preserved the whole convoy. It is well to sail with Jesus, even though it
be in a little ship. When we sail in Christ's company, we may not make sure
of fair weather, for great storms may toss the vessel which carries the Lord
himself, and we must not expect to find the sea less boisterous around our
little boat. If we go with Jesus we must be content to fare as he fares;
and when the waves are rough to him, they will be rough to us. It is by tempest
and tossing that we shall come to land, as he did before us.</BIG>
<P>
<BIG>When the storm swept over Galilee's dark lake all faces gathered blackness,
and all hearts dreaded shipwreck. When all creature help was useless, the
slumbering Saviour arose, and with a word, transformed the riot of the tempest
into the deep quiet of a calm; then were the little vessels at rest as well
as that which carried the Lord. Jesus is the star of the sea; and though
there be sorrow upon the sea, when Jesus is on it there is joy too. May our
hearts make Jesus their anchor, their rudder, their lighthouse, their life
boat, and their harbour. His Church is the Admiral's flagship, let us attend
her movements, and cheer her officers with our presence. He himself is the
great attraction; let us follow ever in his wake, mark his signals, steer
by his chart, and never fear while he is within hail. Not one ship in the
convoy shall suffer wreck; the great Commodore will steer every barque in
safety to the desired haven. By faith we will slip our cable for another
day's cruise, and sail forth with Jesus into a sea of tribulation. Winds
and waves will not spare us, but they all obey him; and, therefore, whatever
squalls may occur without, faith shall feel a blessed calm within. He is
ever in the centre of the weather beaten company: let us rejoice in him.
His vessel has reached the haven, and so shall ours.</BIG>
<CENTER>
<A HREF="#top">(back to top)</A>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BIG>
<HR>
</BIG>
<P>
<I><BIG>September 15 Morning</BIG></I>
<P>
<B><BIG>"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings." --Psalm 112:7</BIG></B>
<P>
<BIG>Christian, you ought not to dread the arrival of evil tidings; because
if you are distressed by them, what do you more than other men? Other men
have not your God to fly to; they have never proved his faithfulness as you
have done, and it is no wonder if they are bowed down with alarm and cowed
with fear: but you profess to be of another spirit; you have been begotten
again unto a lively hope, and your heart lives in heaven and not on earthly
things; now, if you are seen to be distracted as other men, what is the value
of that grace which you profess to have received? Where is the dignity of
that new nature which you claim to possess?</BIG>
<P>
<BIG>Again, if you should be filled with alarm, as others are, you would,
doubtless, be led into the sins so common to others under trying circumstances.
The ungodly, when they are overtaken by evil tidings, rebel against God;
they murmur, and think that God deals hardly with them. Will you fall into
that same sin? Will you provoke the Lord as they do?</BIG>
<P>
<BIG>Moreover, unconverted men often run to wrong means in order to escape
from difficulties, and you will be sure to do the same if your mind yields
to the present pressure. Trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Your
wisest course is to do as Moses did at the Red Sea, "Stand still and see
the salvation of God." For if you give way to fear when you hear of evil
tidings, you will be unable to meet the trouble with that calm composure
which nerves for duty, and sustains under adversity. How can you glorify
God if you play the coward? Saints have often sung God's high praises in
the fires, but will your doubting and desponding, as if you had none to help
you, magnify the Most High? Then take courage, and relying in sure confidence
upon the faithfulness of your covenant God, "let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid."</BIG>
<CENTER>
<A HREF="#top">(back to top)</A>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BIG>
<HR>
</BIG>
<P>
<I><BIG>September 18 Evening</BIG></I>
<P>
<B><BIG>"And they follow me." --John 10:27</BIG></B>
<P>
<BIG>We should follow our Lord as unhesitatingly as sheep follow their shepherd,
for he has a right to lead us wherever he pleases. We are not our own, we
are bought with a price--let us recognize the rights of the redeeming blood.
The soldier follows his captain, the servant obeys his master, much more
must we follow our Redeemer, to whom we are a purchased possession. We are
not true to our profession of being Christians, if we question the bidding
of our Leader and Commander. Submission is our duty, cavilling is our folly.
Often might our Lord say to us as to Peter, "What is that to thee? Follow
thou me." Wherever Jesus may lead us, he goes before us. If we know not where
we go, we know with whom we go. With such a companion, who will dread the
perils of the road? The journey may be long, but his everlasting arms will
carry us to the end. The presence of Jesus is the assurance of eternal salvation,
because he lives, we shall live also. We should follow Christ in simplicity
and faith, because the paths in which he leads us all end in glory and
immortality. It is true they may not be smooth paths--they may be covered
with sharp flinty trials, but they lead to the "city which hath foundations,
whose builder and maker is God." "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and
truth unto such as keep his covenant." Let us put full trust in our Leader,
since we know that, come prosperity or adversity, sickness or health, popularity
or contempt, his purpose shall be worked out, and that purpose shall be pure,
unmingled good to every heir of mercy. We shall find it sweet to go up the
bleak side of the hill with Christ; and when rain and snow blow into our
faces, his dear love will make us far more blest than those who sit at home
and warm their hands at the world's fire. To the top of Amana, to the dens
of lions, or to the hills of leopards, we will follow our Beloved. Precious
Jesus, draw us, and we will run after thee.</BIG>
<CENTER>
<A HREF="#top">(back to top)</A>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BIG>
<HR>
</BIG>
<P>
<I><BIG>September 19 Morning</BIG></I>
<P>
<B><BIG>"The liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." --Galatians
5:1</BIG></B>
<P>
<BIG>This "liberty" makes us free to heaven's charter--the Bible. Here is
a choice passage, believer, "When thou passest through the rivers, I will
be with thee." You are free to that. Here is another: "The mountains shall
depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee";
you are free to that. You are a welcome guest at the table of the promises.
Scripture is a never failing treasury filled with boundless stores of grace.
It is the bank of heaven; you may draw from it as much as you please, without
let or hindrance. Come in faith and you are welcome to all covenant blessings.
There is not a promise in the Word which shall be withheld. In the depths
of tribulations let this freedom comfort you; amidst waves of distress let
it cheer you; when sorrows surround thee let it be thy solace. This is thy
Father's love token; thou art free to it at all times. Thou art also free
to the throne of grace. It is the believer's privilege to have access at
all times to his heavenly Father. Whatever our desires, our difficulties,
our wants, we are at liberty to spread all before him. It matters not how
much we may have sinned, we may ask and expect pardon. It signifies nothing
how poor we are, we may plead his promise that he will provide all things
needful. We have permission to approach his throne at all times--in midnight's
darkest hour, or in noontide's most burning heat. Exercise thy right, O believer,
and live up to thy privilege. Thou art free to all that is treasured up in
Christ--wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It matters
not what thy need is, for there is fulness of supply in Christ, and it is
there for thee. O what a "freedom" is thine! freedom from condemnation, freedom
to the promises, freedom to the throne of grace, and at last freedom to enter
heaven!</BIG>
<CENTER>
<A HREF="#top">(back to top)</A>
</CENTER>
<P ALIGN=Center>
<BIG> </BIG><B><BIG><BIG><A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top">Go to Abounding
Joy Home Page</A></BIG></BIG></B>
<P ALIGN=Center>
<B><BIG><BIG><A HREF="mailto:steve@aboundingjoy.com">Send us
email!</A></BIG></BIG></B>
<P ALIGN=Center>
<A HREF="Maintoc.html" TARGET="_top">Go to Main Table of Contents<BR>
(For browsers without frames)</A>
</BODY>]]>