Ask and Have [Charles Spurgeon sermon]

 

Ask and Have a Charles Spurgeon sermon
https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/ask-and-have/#flipbook/ 

 

 Excerpts:

//  I invite your most solemn attention to this matter, for it is vitally important. And my first observation is this, how very small after all is this demand which God makes of us. Ask! Why, it is the least thing he can possibly expect of us, and it is no more than we ordinarily require of those who need help from us. We expect a poor man to ask; and if he does not we lay the blame of his lack upon himself. If God will give for the asking, and we remain poor, who is to blame? Is not the blame most grievous? Does it not look as if we were out of order with God, so that we will not even condescend to ask a favour of him? Surely there must be in our hearts a lurking enmity to him, or else instead of its being an unwelcome necessity it would be regarded as a great delight.//

// If you may have everything by asking, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is, and I beseech you to abound in it.//

//It was most natural that instead of crying and whining a child that really loved God should speak to him about his trouble. Should it not be natural to you and to me spontaneously and at once to tell the Lord our sorrows and ask for help? Should not this be the first resort?//

// Do you know, brothers, what great things are to be had for the asking? Have you ever thought of it? Does it not stimulate you to pray fervently? All heaven lies before the grasp of the asking man; all the promises of God are rich and inexhaustible, and their fulfilment is to be had by prayer. Jesus saith, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father,” and Paul says, “All things are yours, and ye are Christ’s.” Who would not pray when all things are thus handed over to us? Ay, and promises that were first made to special individuals, are all made to us if we know how to plead them in prayer. Israel went through the Red Sea ages ago, and yet we read in the sixty-sixth Psalm, “There did we rejoice in him.” Only Jacob was present at Peniel, and yet Hosea says “There he spake with us.” Paul wants to give us a great promise for times of need, and he quotes from the Old Testament, “For he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Where did Paul get that? That is the assurance which the Lord gave to Joshua: “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Surely the promise was for Joshua only. No; it is for us. “No Scripture is of private interpretation”; all Scripture is ours. See how God appears unto Solomon at night, and he says, “Ask what I shall give thee.” Solomon asks for wisdom. “Oh, that is Solomon,” say you. Listen. “If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God.” God gave Solomon wealth, and fame into the bargain. Is not that peculiar to Solomon? No, for it is said of the true wisdom, “Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour”; and is not this much like our Saviour’s word, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Thus you see the Lord’s promises have many fulfilments, and they are waiting now to pour their treasures into the lap of prayer. Does not this lift prayer up to a high level, when God is willing to repeat the biographies of his saints in us; when he is waiting to be gracious, and to load us with his benefits? //


//They brought a man to Christ sick of the palsy, and asked him to heal him, and he said, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” He had not asked that, had he? No, but God gives greater things than we ask for. Hear that poor, dying thief’s humble prayer, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Jesus replies, “To-day shaft thou be with me in Paradise.” He had not dreamed of such an honour. Even the story of the Prodigal teaches us this. He resolved to say, “I am not worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.” What is the answer? “This my son was dead, and is alive again: bring forth the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his hands, and shoes on his feet.” Once get into the position of an asker, and you shall have what you never asked for, and never thought to receive. The text is often misquoted: “God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask, or even think.” We could ask, if we were but more sensible and had more faith, for the very greatest things, but God is willing to give us infinitely more than we do ask.// 

 

 

 

 

 

God Waiting to be Gracious

The following entry in Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotional reminded me of Andrew Murray's book, Waiting on God.

Morning, December 9

Go To Evening Reading

“Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you.”

Isaiah 30:18

God often delays in answering prayer. We have several instances of this in sacred Scripture. Jacob did not get the blessing from the angel until near the dawn of day—he had to wrestle all night for it. The poor woman of Syrophoenicia was answered not a word for a long while. Paul besought the Lord thrice that “the thorn in the flesh” might be taken from him, and he received no assurance that it should be taken away, but instead thereof a promise that God’s grace should be sufficient for him. If thou hast been knocking at the gate of mercy, and hast received no answer, shall I tell thee why the mighty Maker hath not opened the door and let thee in? Our Father has reasons peculiar to himself for thus keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show his power and his sovereignty, that men may know that Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold. More frequently the delay is for our profit. Thou art perhaps kept waiting in order that thy desires may be more fervent. God knows that delay will quicken and increase desire, and that if he keeps thee waiting thou wilt see thy necessity more clearly, and wilt seek more earnestly; and that thou wilt prize the mercy all the more for its long tarrying. There may also be something wrong in thee which has need to be removed, before the joy of the Lord is given. Perhaps thy views of the Gospel plan are confused, or thou mayest be placing some little reliance on thyself, instead of trusting simply and entirely to the Lord Jesus. Or, God makes thee tarry awhile that he may the more fully display the riches of his grace to thee at last. Thy prayers are all filed in heaven, and if not immediately answered they are certainly not forgotten, but in a little while shall be fulfilled to thy delight and satisfaction. Let not despair make thee silent, but continue instant in earnest supplication.

Spurgeon's daily devotional Morning and Evening is so classic and popular that it can be viewed on many websites on the internet like: HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE


Waiting on God by Andrew Murray is also another classic that many websites host, like:
HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE,
AUDIO HERE, HERE

The fact that there are 31 chapters means the book can be read in one month. One chapter per day. Or, in about 8 months if you read one chapter every week [say, on Sunday].