Charles Haddon Spurgeon is often called the Prince of Preachers (1834 - 1892) and perhaps was the foremost preacher of the 19th Century. In 1861 Spurgeon’s congregation built the Metropolitan Tabernacle which had seating for 4,700 people. Also in 1861, Spurgeon preached at the Crystal Palace in London to a crowd of 23,654. But Spurgeon would never have been saved, or heard God’s call, if he had not been a determined church attender. Here is how he tells the story in his own words of the day of his salvation: “I sometimes think I might have been in darkness and despair until now had it not been for the goodness of God in sending a snowstorm, one Sunday morning, while I was going to a certain place of worship. When I could go no further, I turned down a side street, and came to a little Primitive Methodist Chapel. In that chapel there may have been a dozen or fifteen people. I had heard of the Primitive Methodists, how they sang so loudly that they made people’s heads ache; but that did not matter to me. I wanted to know how I might be saved, and if they could tell me that, I did not care how much they made my head ache. The minister did not come that morning; he was snowed up, I suppose. At last, a very thin-looking man, a shoemaker, or tailor, or something of that sort, went up into the pulpit to preach.” It was during a snow storm so bad that the pastor was not even able to come to church that Spurgeon heard God speak to him through a faithful servant who did make it to church that day, and reluctantly shared God’s Word as best He could. The impact of Spurgeon’s ministry is still being felt and will be for all eternity. The church made it possible, and facilitated the spiritual break out of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. - Ed Wrather (Facilitating Your Spiritual Break Out - Part 4 The Church 01.07.04 Part 4 of an 8 part devotional series - Read the entire devotional at burningbush click on Devotional of the Day link.)
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 15:35:41 +0000