A lecture for little-faith by Spurgeon

Another great Spurgeon devotion. Enjoy your summer day!

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SPURGEON AT THE NEW PARK CHAPEL

A lecture for little-faith
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“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because
that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all
toward each other aboundeth.” 2 Thessalonians 1:3

Suggested Further Reading: Matthew 17:14-21

When faith commences in the soul it is simply looking unto Jesus, and perhaps
even then there are so many clouds of doubts, and so much dimness of the eye,
that we have need for the light of the Spirit to shine upon the cross before
we are able even so much as to see it. When faith grows a little, it rises
from looking to Christ to coming to Christ. He who stood afar off and looked
to the cross, by-and-by plucks up courage, and getting heart to himself, he
runneth up to the cross; or perhaps he doth not run, but hath to be drawn
before he can so much as creep thither, and even then it is with a limping
gait that he draweth nigh to Christ the Saviour. But that done, faith goeth a
little farther: it layeth hold on Christ; it begins to see him in his
excellency, and appropriates him in some degree, conceives him to be a real
Christ and a real Saviour, and is convinced of his suitability. And when it
hath done as much as that, it goeth further; it leaneth on Christ; it leaneth
on its Beloved; casteth all the burden of its cares, sorrows, and griefs upon
that blessed shoulder, and permitteth all its sins to be swallowed up in the
great red sea of the Saviour’s blood. And faith can then go further still; for
having seen and run towards him, and laid hold upon him, and having leaned
upon him, faith in the next place puts in a humble, but a sure and certain
claim to all that Christ is and all that he has wrought; and then, trusting
alone in this, appropriating all this to itself, faith mounteth to full
assurance; and out of heaven there is no state more rapturous and blessed.

For meditation: How would you describe the state of your faith? Do you want to
grow in faith (Luke 17:5)?

Sermon no. 205 / 18 July (1858)