Applying What You Read to Life and Ministry
Church Revitalization and Spiritual Discouragement
Charles Spurgeon is not only "the Prince of Preachers" he is also the Pastor's Pastor. Very few men excel at both preaching and shepherding. For example, Dr. John MacArthur is one of the greatest expository preachers of our generation. John readily admits however that he is not the best counselor. Surely this is one of the reasons why Mr. Spurgeon is still so popular today.
This new series of blog posts is built upon Spurgeon's masterpiece lecture, The Minister's Fainting Fits, which I have summarized for you here and here. If you have never read this lecture in its entirety I would implore you to do so. For church members this lecture will help you understand how to better pray for your pastor (Eph. 6:19-20) and will show you how you can better encourage him in the Lord (1 Thess. 5:12-14). For counselors this lesson will help you appreciate the inner-workings of those you counsel (especially pastors). For pastors these articles should encourage your inner man while reminding you that you are certainly not alone (1 Peter 4:12).
As I recently listened to Spurgeon's lecture on The Minister's Fainting Fits it felt as if Spurgeon had spent time reading my ministry journal. Please allow me to draw some parallels between lecture and life and I would encourage you to try and do so yourself as you read these articles. As always I pray that these blog posts will benefit the larger body of Christ.
As Spurgeon begins this lecture he notes, "There maybe here and there men of iron, to whom wear and tear work no perceptible detriment, but surely the rust frets even these; and as for ordinary men, the Lord knows, and makes them to know, that they are but dust." When listening to a recent Question and Answer session by Dr. John MacArthur (who was my faithful pastor for twelve years) I realized that Pastor John is one of those unique "men of iron" that Spurgeon refers to here. I believe Dr. John Piper made this same observation when Dr. MacArthur spoke at one of his pastors conferences (note 39.15 in audio). For the record, there is no one in the world I respect more, or have learned more from, than John MacArthur. For most of us, we are but ordinary men to whom our Sovereign Lord regularly reminds us that we are but dust. One of the chief means God uses to keep His Pastor-teachers humble and dependent on Him are ministry trials and thorns (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
Spurgeon drives home this very truth at the end of his lecture when he says, "The lesson of wisdom is, be not dismayed by soul-trouble. Count it no strange thing, but a part of ordinary ministerial experience. Should the power of depression be more than ordinary, think not that all is over with your usefulness. Cast not away your confidence, for it hath great recompense of reward. Even if the enemy's foot be on your neck, expect to rise amid overthrow him. Cast the burden of the present, along with the sin of the past and the fear of the future, upon the Lord, who forsaketh not his saints. Live by the day—ay, by the hour."
TO BE CONTINUED
