We are living in a time in which many honestly believe newer is better, younger is wiser, and truth is relative.
The sad thing about this is that this mindset forces us to learn lessons ourselves—which is the most painful way to learn.
Rarely do we study the past and then take the lessons that were learned by others and apply them to our circumstances.
But, it doesn’t have to be this way. And, for Christians, God tells us to do otherwise.
“Remember the days of old. Consider the years of all generations. Ask your father, and he will inform you, your elders, and they will tell you.” (Deuteronomy 32:7)
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
“Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.” (1 Corinthians 10:6)
With this in mind, in the “R - Relationships” part of Branch Living, we don’t just talk about those who are currently in our lives. We look to the lives of Christians who lived before us, learn about them, and take to heart the lessons they can share with us.
Each time we gather on this podcast, we hear two devotions from Charles Spurgeon. Some of you might wonder, who is Charles Spurgeon?
(My sources for this information are primary John Piper and Wikipedia.)
Charles Spurgeon was known as “the Prince of Preachers”. He was born in 1834 and died in 1892. For those of you who have been listening to the podcast, it is amazing, isn’t it, that although he died more that 100 years ago, he speaks so relevantly to us today?
He was the firstborn of 17 siblings. His father was a pastor, and his grandfather was a highly esteemed preacher and minister of a Puritan congregation.
Although his formal education was limited, he was an avid reader and lover of learning. Over his lifetime, he amassed 12,000 works in his personal library.
On January 6, 1850, he was caught in a raging snowstorm. He entered a Primitive Methodist chapel and while he was listening to a sermon, he had a remarkable vision of Christ as Savior.
Spurgeon was only 16 when he preached his first sermon as the pastor of Waterbeach Baptist Church near Cambridge. Within two years, the little congregation grew from 40 to 400. The Holy Spirit was on him. He became well-known for his energy and enthusiasm and preaching skills. At age 19, he was called to be pastor of New Park Street Chapel in London. He became an overnight sensation, preaching to crowds in the tens of thousands. Imagine speaking to crowds of more than 10,000 with no microphone—no projection system. Just your own voice. His preaching so conveyed the Spirit, people flocked to see him. He truly was anointed by God.
I’ll stop here and pick up Spurgeon’s life story in another podcast.
What can we learn from Spurgeon’s life up to this point?
This is what I take from it.
Listen for the voice of God in our lives;
Set age aside. Whether you are 16 or 116, God has a purpose for your life.
Follow God’s leading.
Leave the anointing to God.
You may never know the role you play this side of heaven. We might not be a Spurgeon, with a ministry that attracts thousands. But, who did God use to bring Spurgeon to Him? His father and grandfather.
Open yourself to God. Ask Him to lead you. Be willing to move on, as Spurgeon did from his small church. Be willing to stay, as Spurgeon did in his church in London.
The key is be open to God and willing to do what He asks.
“Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go.” (Isaiah 48:17)
Lessons can be easily learned. Open your Bible. Read the writings of those who clearly had God’s Spirit moving in their lives. Look to those who walked this road before you.
We don’t need to learn all lessons from first-hand experiences. We can learn from those who came before us.
We can stand on their shoulders.