Thursday 25 July 2013

Read: 1 Timothy 4:11-16

Charles Spurgeon was only 18 (18 years old!) when he began pastoring a church in rural Cambridgeshire in England. Not long after, after preaching a sermon for a congregation of 232 at the historic New Park Street Chapel in London, he was invited to pastor the church. He was only 19. Large crowds would flock to hear him preach every week. The chapel, which could seat 1,500 with standing room for 500 more, became far too small to contain the crowds of people and the church soon had to expand. By 22 Spurgeon was the most popular preacher of the day. For the 31 years of his pulpit ministry the average attendance was close to 6,000 morning and evening.

 

Spurgeon was filled with an unquenchable passion for those who did not know the saving grace of Jesus Christ and would never flinch from preaching with strong and impassioned words. It is impossible to estimate the impact that such preaching had for the sake of God’s kingdom.

 

What should we learn from the incredible life of Charles Spurgeon? We cannot deny that he was incredibly gifted in the pulpit, a gift we may not possess. Does his life serve only as a nice story about what God can do with someone amazing? The answer is no. Spurgeon was only gifted as a result of God’s choosing and grace. God does not only use people who are gifted, rather God gives gifts to all people in the church (1 Corinthians 12:7) so that they can be used for his kingdom.

 

This giving of gifts often defies human expectations about God’s selection criteria. We expect God to use the mature, the strong, the especially gifted. Instead God uses those whom we would overlook. Spurgeon preached his first sermon at age 16. Would we expect God to use a 16 year old in our church powerfully or would we overlook them?

 

Paul’s words in 1 Timothy confirm this pattern. Timothy was also young when God was using him for the work of the gospel. Yet Paul’s words encourage him: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” Instead of worrying about his age Timothy was to use his gifting boldly for the sake of the church.

 

Age is no barrier to God using you for the sake of His kingdom. If you think that you are too young to be used by God think again. Do not neglect the gifts that God has given you. Rather, seek to use your gifting for the sake of the church. If you don’t know how God has gifted you seek to find opportunities to serve in the church and serve there for a time to see if God has gifted you in those areas. Also spend time talking with more mature believers in your church.

 

The opposite is also true. Just as youth is no barrier to being used in the church so old age is no barrier. God can use people of all ages. If you think that you are too old to be used powerfully for the sake of God’s kingdom, think again. Seek out opportunities to share Christ with others using the age and experience that God has given you.

 

How can God use you powerfully for the sake of His kingdom?

 

Prayer:

Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

 

Adoration:

 

Confession:

 

Thanks:

 

Supplication:

Pray for the young people in your church. Pray that God would grow them in their relationship with Him and that they would passionately seek to serve Him with their lives. Pray that they would be encouraged to use their gifts for the service of the church.

Pray for the pastor of your church. Pray that God would encourage them in their preaching of the word. Pray that the Holy Spirit would give them insight as they study HIs word and that they would be able to preach with power and conviction. Pray that the hearts of the congregation would be changed as a result of God’s word.

 

My Additional Prayer Points.

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