“Only a prayer meeting!”

    C H Spurgeon,

Are the prayer meetings in decline? Is there a low view of the importance of them? The church in this country is experiencing difficulties and yet the prayer meeting is suffering. These things ought not to be. When reading through the book of Acts we cannot fail to see that the early Church placed great importance upon the gathering of the people for prayer. It, being instituted by our Lord, therefore is of great concern to us. C H Spurgeon contended hard for the prayer meeting, which thankfully was heeded by many in his day. In this book there are a number of addresses, sermons and illustrations which have been gathered together, to encourage Christians to pray. The book begins with Spurgeon's address in which he declares those now familiar words; 'only a prayer meeting!' Listen to Spurgeon; 'What a company we have here tonight! It fills my heart with gladness, and my eyes with tears of joy, to see so many hundreds of persons gathered together at what is sometimes wickedly described as “only a prayer meeting.” It is good for us to draw nigh unto God in prayer,and specially good to make up a great congregation for such a purpose.” At the last prayer meeting our glorious King was in the midst; were you there? If not, can you honestly say, He understood and accepted my absence.

May the Lord stir us up to pray!