Two Powerful Charles Spurgeon Quotes

I was listening to Josh Howerton speak w/ Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell. These Charles Spurgeon quotes come up during their discussion. I probably will do another post on that podcast, but I wanted to get these verses out to you this evening. It is powerful, powerful preaching and teaching by them…………..

It has been said that other pastors despised Charles Spurgeon. Why? He spoke against those who watered down scripture. He was said to have been vulgar. Now, that does not mean he cursed during sermons. It means that he didn’t speak in the “cultured preacher language” of the time. He spoke as if he was one of us. He preached as if we were being dangled over the fires of hell, and he needed to get our attention before we were lost.

If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms around their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.

I am perhaps vulgar, but it is not intentional, save that I must and will make the people listen. My firm conviction is that we have had quite enough polite preachers, and many require a change. God has owned me among the most degraded and offcasts. Let others serve their class; these are mine, and to them I must keep.

I love those words…God has owned me among the most degraded and offcasts. Let others serve their class: these are mine, and to them I must keep.

Stand firm. Serving Jesus is not without a price. Share the Gospel freely. Reject false doctrine. Reject false teaching. Reject words which bear false witness. Embrace Jesus. Serve Him and no one else. We cannot serve two masters. Matthew 6:24 reads…

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Spurgeon chose to serve Jesus. He contended on behalf of the Good News. Jude 3 reads…

³ Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

At one point, Spurgeon’s enemies ran into Surrey Gardens Music Hall(where he was preaching), and shouted, “Fire! Fire! Fire!” Seven people died as people trampled one another for the exits. Many more were injured. 10,000 people had gathered to hear him speak. So, you can imagine the panic and confusion which ensued the false cries of, “Fire!” Mini-lesson – Beware of those who falsely cry, “Fire!” The consequences are devastating for so many!

Understandably shaken, Spurgeon experienced great suffering as a result of the false warning and ensuing tragedy. He almost quit. But Spurgeon would grow even stronger in the Lord. The persecution would eventually strengthen both him and his blue collar revival.

That brings us to our final Bible verse. When Joseph’s brothers recognized him(after coming to Egypt during a famine and long after throwing him into a well and selling him into slavery), they were overcome. The reunion goes like this from Genesis 50:20…

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

For another 36 years, Spurgeon would take this tragedy and save many more for the Kingdom of Christ. What was intended for evil was used by God for the good, and Charles Spurgeon would live out his own creed.

…These are mine and to them I must keep.