Charles Spurgeon

SUPPLICATION

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GENERAL TRIBULATION

[We all can think of a Christian sister or brother experiencing so much affliction they may not be able to pray for themselves. Here’s an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

SUFFERING COMES WITHIN AS WELL AS WITHOUT

“Yes, this anguish was good for me, for you have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins” (Isa 38:17 NLT).

FATHER, suffering comes in two forms: within—“the apparent desertion of the Bridegroom which is the most agonizing of the soul’s sufferings, and without, the persecuting malice of men and devils” Madame Guyon (ref#128, p442).

____ knows, O LORD, that Your rules are righteous (Ps 119:75) and (he/she) is not. Can You treat (him/her) more cruelly than (he/she) deserves? Never, (he/she) is never smitten as harshly as (his/her) sins deserve (ref#34, April 30, AM).

You, FATHER, have afflicted ____ in faithfulness. (Ps 119:75). But, LORD, see to (his/her) suffering within for it is most debilitating.

In ____’s despondency remove (his/her) anxious thoughts and forebodings, grant (him/her) a glad heart that has a continual feast regardless of circumstances (Prov 15:15). Make (him/her) delight in Your law so (he/she) will not perish in this affliction (Ps 119:92). You who make ____ see many troubles and calamities will revive (him/her) again (Ps 71:20).

Now that (he/she) lives among bitterness and crosses and is prostrate under a load of trouble and affliction, instill within (him/her) that (he/she) comes closest to being “all fair” in the Bridegroom’s eyes. In suffering (he/she) is “all fair” and there is no spot or deformity in (him/her) (ref#128, p 439-440, [Song 4:7])

Suffering scours out ____’s harsh, unyielding, bounded and limited nature that stands in the way of (his/her) happiness. This present suffering is not (his/her) fault nor is it offensive in Your sight; “it is simply a natural defect, derived from Adam, which (his/her) Bridegroom will insensibly take away” (ref#128, p440, [Song 4:7]). This circumstance may destroy (his/her) beauty in the eyes of people around (him/her), but (his/her) Bridegroom is most pleased for ____ has no longer any comeliness of (his/her) own. In CHRIST’s eyes through this suffering (he/she) has become possessed of true beauty (ref#128, p440, [Song 4:7]). In His time, CHRIST will “reanimate this annihilated soul” Madame Guyon (ref#128, p446, [Song 4:16]) and ____ will become His perfect bride.

SUPPLICATION

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GENERAL TRIBULATION

[We all can think of a Christian sister or brother experiencing so much affliction they may not be able to pray for themselves. Here’s an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

PERMANENT BLESSINGS

Calamity can wash ____ out to sea when everything before (him/her) begins shifting. Change frightens. Even one change in life can be enough to take (his/her) eyes off You, FATHER—You, the unchangeable GOD.

FATHER, although ____ is experiencing change, You abide evermore the same. The streams of Your love are as “deep, as broad, and as full as ever” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, July 1st AM).

Since ____’s stability is never sure, propel (his/her) thoughts toward the things that cannot be shaken (Heb 12:27). Certainly a short amount of reminiscing about You can cover over (his/her) unstable state and replace it with thanksgiving.

Move ____ to stand at the foot of the cross trusting alone in the merits of JESUS’ blood. Does (he/she) not have solid assurances that Your love will keep (him/her) until the end (Jude 24)?

You are (his/her) FATHER!—who gives good gifts to (him/her) when (he/she) asks You (Matt 7:11). You have a permanent house for (him/her) in the heavens (John 14:2). You not only love (him/her) through Your Son, but You, Yourself love (him/her) (John 16:27). FATHER, You are (his/her) GOD and Rock of salvation (Ps 89:26).

The love of Your Son stands also as a permanent blessing to ____. Nothing can affect the strength of His affectionate nature. (He/She) is His desire (Song 7:10). There is no creature or circumstance that can separate (him/her) from His love (Rom 8:35).

“…let us …not…be cast down by what may happen in this…fleeting state of time….we will see the wreck of everything earthborn, and yet rejoice in the God of our salvation” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, June 22nd PM).

Change is here for ____; inspire (him/her) to embrace You, LORD. You are (his/her) unchangeable GOD.

SUPPLICATION

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GENERAL SICKNESS

[The majority of our prayers concern physical health. We all know someone who is dealing with the pain of sickness. Here is an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

GOD’S WATCHFUL EYE

screen-shot-2017-02-21-at-2-43-41-pmFATHER, You do not forget the cry of ____ who is presently afflicted (Ps 9:12). Not only do You not forget but You set the boundaries of (his/her) tribulation. (He/She) will not “suffer too much or be relieved too late” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Aug 17th PM).

“The knife of the heavenly Surgeon never cuts deeper than is absolutely necessary. ‘He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men’” Charles Spurgeon (Lam 3:33) (ref#34, Aug 17th PM).

FATHER, deliver strength to ____ as (he/she) is tried and give (him/her) more power since (he/she) is weak (Isa 40:29).   Wise is (he/she) in the day of trouble who knows (his/her) “true source of strength and who fails not to pray” E.M. Bounds (ref#64, p47). “…God will supply every need…according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19 ESV).

CONFESSION

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WORKING OUT MY OWN SALVATION

screen-shot-2017-02-21-at-1-58-12-pm…FATHER, move me to work out my own salvation—but not on my own. Keep me always accepting what You give. I wish to let You set me apart.

“The one marvelous secret of a holy life lies not in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfections of Jesus manifest themselves in my mortal flesh” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, July 23rd).

FATHER, Your mystery of sanctification is JESUS. All His sinless perfection You pour into me. And as You pour, I continually change slowly and surely into holiness (2 Cor 13:4).

If there is any effort on my part to be exerted it is to seek to know CHRIST better—“in His divine nature, in His human relationship, in His finished work, in His death, in His resurrection, in His present glorious intercession, and in His future royal advent” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Jan 4th AM). The reason You have made me one with JESUS is so His disposition will rule my disposition (ref#7, Feb 8th).

This “working out my own salvation” is to let You, FATHER, more quickly change me. Allow me to experience the closeness of JESUS, FATHER, so that His presence pushes anxious thoughts away that I may see clearly Your direction before me.

SUPPLICATION

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SICKNESS Life Threatening

[The majority of our prayers concern physical health. We all know someone who is dealing with a life-ending disease. Here is an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

A LIMIT TO SICKNESS

screen-shot-2017-02-18-at-4-03-24-pm…FATHER, remind ____ of Your sovereignty. As with waves (Job 38:11), You set a limit to sickness; it must obey You.

“The ultimate end of sickness is restrained, and beyond which it cannot go….Wisdom hangs up the thermometer at the furnace mouth, and regulates the heat” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Aug 17th PM).

GOD, You will provide for ____ as You did for Elijah. “You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there’” (1 Kings 17:4 ESV). You will provide for ____ as You did for Zarephath. “The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord…” (1 Kings 17:16 ESV).

Ground ____ in the truth, LORD, that (his/her) sickness (even if it leads to the death of (his/her) body) is but a moment in (his/her) eternity and works in (him/her) “a dependence on Christ that makes heaven’s promises surer and more precious” Bryan Chapell (ref#66, p62).

SUPPLICATION

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NON CHRISTIAN, Resisters

[We all have friends and family that do not want anything to do with Christianity so it is up to us to pray for their salvation. Here’s an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

FELIX-LIKE

screen-shot-2017-02-20-at-4-01-20-pm“As Paul continued to insist on right relations with God and his people, about a life of moral discipline and the coming Judgment, Felix felt things getting a little too close for comfort and dismissed him….” (Acts 24:25 MSG).

FATHER, I watch ____ divert (his/her) attention from You whenever Your names comes up in conversation. I have to say affliction and prosperity have alike failed to turn ____ toward CHRIST. Tears and prayers and sermons have, so far, been wasted on (his/her) barren heart (ref#34, Dec 31st AM).

There must be something of You that ____ disapproves of otherwise (he/she) would not be hindered from acknowledging Your authority (Matt 13:57). (He/She) goes on hardening (his/her) heart when (he/she) puts CHRIST to the test for the purpose of approving Him (Heb 3:7-9). CHRIST does not meet (his/her) specifications as Messiah (Luke 9:22) because (he/she) does not yet have an experiential knowledge of Him (Heb 3:10).

Pride makes ____ critical of Your activities, FATHER. I hear (him/her) criticizing, disagreeing and correcting things of You (ref#124, p118).

Thus, I long to see (him/her) approach You with teachable humility (ref#124, p119). I long to see ____ great in Your kingdom.

“Unless you reverse your present trend of thought and become as the little children, in no case shall you enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, he who is of such a nature as to humble himself like this little child, esteeming himself small inasmuch as he is so, thus thinking truly, and because truly, therefore humbly of himself, this person is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”  Kenneth S. Wuest (ref#37, p45-46, [Matt 18:3-4]).

CONFESSION

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THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHDRAWING HIS SENSIBLE PRESENCE

screen-shot-2017-01-02-at-3-47-19-pm…FATHER, save me from being content with a little measure of the SPIRIT, thinking that is all I am expected to have.   So often I feel His absence and act using my own human spirit. Grow in me a desire for the power of His presence all the time (ref#76, p29).

“The Holy Spirit is no temporary gift; He abides with the saints. We have but to seek Him aright, and He will be found by us. He is jealous, but He is compassionate. If He leaves in anger, He returns in mercy. Gracious and tender, He does not weary of us, but He waits to be merciful still” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Feb 12th PM).

Through sin and worldliness I lose the consciousness of the SPIRIT’s presence. I don’t lose You, SPIRIT, but You are behind my conscious awareness (ref#30, p115).

For instance, no matter how eager or clever I am in sharing the Gospel, it is insufficient without Your presence.  What I need is to experience continual power to be obedient to You, SPIRIT, Who alone truly teaches me (ref#33, p86).

“God is determined to have His child as pure and clean and white as driven snow, and as long as there is disobedience in any point of His teaching, He will prevent none of the working of His spirit” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, June 30th).

FATHER, sensitize me to watch for the SPIRIT. In Him is the only way I can remain spiritual (ref#101, p28).

SUPPLICATION

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NON CHRISTIAN, Resisters

[We all have friends and family that do not want anything to do with Christianity so it is up to us to pray for their salvation. Here’s an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

BACKSLIDER’S ACTIVITY TOWARD GOD

screen-shot-2016-12-15-at-12-28-58-pmLORD, I observe ____ is stiffnecked (Rom 3:10-12). You, and You only must draw (him/her) (John 6:44) to repentance. And when the Lion of Judah roars (he/she) will come running (Hos 11:10). You are gracious and merciful and will not turn away Your face from ____ if (he/she) returns to You (2 Chron 30:9).

Since ____, as a backslider, is filled with (his/her) own ways, it is not easy to awaken (his/her) interests again in CHRIST. “It is always difficult to reach (his/her) conscience” W.P. Lockhart (ref#127, Prov 14:14, “Backslider in Heart”).

“Argument does not succeed. The only thing to do is to bring them back to their first experience. They must come to Jesus afresh” W.P. Lockhart (ref#127, Prov 14:14, “Backslider in Heart”).

“Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls….” (Jer 6:16 AMP).

The same exercise of grace is required as at (his/her) conversion—repentance. I pray that ____ come to CHRIST as (he/she) did at first. Give (him/her) FATHER, a word from You—a word powerful enough to astonish (him/her), chasing all fear away (ref#34, Oct 31st AM).

“No one can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as they ever were” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Oct 31st AM).

FATHER, manifest Your holiness to ____ (Ezek 20:41) so (he/she) will remember all (his/her) evil deeds and how they have defiled (him/her). Quicken (him/her) to loath (himself/herself) for all the sin (he/she) have committed (Ezek 20:43). I pray (he/she) break up (his/her) fallow ground and seek You that You may come and rain righteousness again upon (him/her).

Deal with (him/her) for Your name’s sake. I want to recognize You in ____’s life again. I want to know that You are the LORD (Ezek 20:44).

PRELUDE TO PRAYER

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Prayer Facts:

“God has spoken to us, let us speak to God—either to set our seal that God is true and faithful to His promise, or to confess the sin of which the Spirit of God has convinced us, or to acknowledge the mercy which God’s providence has given, or to express assent to the great truths which God the Holy Ghost has opened to our understanding” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Feb 5th PM).

 

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You are an all-wise, all-powerful, and ever-present GOD (Jer 42:11), I will wait for You.

Because riches and honor are with You, as well as enduring wealth and righteousness (Prov 8:18), I will wait for You.

Because there is nothing too hard for You (Jer 32:27), I will wait for You.

Because You broke my yoke and burst my bonds so that I might serve You (Jer 2:20), I will wait for You.

Because You see my afflictions and hear my cry, knowing well my sorrows, sufferings, and trials (Ex 3:7), I will wait for You.

Because Your eyes are open and Your ears attentive to prayer (2 Chron 7:15), I will wait for You.

Because by Your invitation I can inquire of You (Isa 65:10), I will wait for You.

 

Read Through the Bible in a Year: January 8th – 14th:

Jan 8    Gen 20-22; Luke 6

Jan 9    Gen 23-24; Luke 7

Jan 10  Gen 25-26; Luke 8

Jan 11  Gen 27-28; Luke 9

Jan 12  Gen 29-30; Ps 4

Jan 13  Gen 31-33; Luke 10

Jan 14  Gen 34-36; Luke 11

SUPPLICATION

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GENERAL TRIBULATION

[We all can think of a Christian sister or brother experiencing so much affliction they may not be able to pray for themselves. Here’s an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

MADE PERFECT BY SUFFERING

screen-shot-2016-12-07-at-11-22-14-am…FATHER, persevere with ____ as You teach (him/her) why suffering is necessary to procure (his/her) obedience to You. You brought situations that made Your Son suffer saying through those unpleasant circumstances He learned obedience (Heb 5:8).

CHRIST also suffered on ____’s behalf leaving behind for (him/her) a model to imitate. I pray that by close application (he/she) might follow in His Savior’s footprints (1 Pet 2:21).

“…there is one very comforting thought in the fact of Christ’s ‘being made perfect through suffering’—it is, that He can have complete sympathy with us. ‘He is not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.’ In this sympathy of Christ we find a sustaining power” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, March 29th AM).

CHRIST was “made perfect” by suffering (Heb 5:9). And ____ must suffer also, so (he/she) might identify with Him (2 Tim 2:12). Affliction deflates the human ego. It is in opposition to what ____ naturally wants. In ____’s humanness (he/she) wants everything that inflates (his/her) ego. (He/She) would love to present (himself/herself) to You beautiful and fit for Your service but that attitude is only (his/her) old fleshly nature wanting to be righteous. Instead, the affliction You bring causes wounds and displays (his/her) weaknesses. Wounds take away (his/her) covering so dear to (him/her)—the veil of (his/her) own righteousness (ref#128, p457).

FATHER, plant the truth of being made perfect by suffering deep within ____ . Anchor (him/her) so (he/she) will not be moved by afflictions for (he/she) is destined for them (1 Thes 3:3). “Thinkest thou to espouse a God, covered with wounds, torn with nails and despoiled of everything without being treated in the same manner” Madame Guyon (ref#128, p457)? Encourage ____ LORD, with all (his/her) tribulations for in them (he/she) is more the beautiful to You.