Baptists on SermonAudio

The sermon emphasizes the critical importance and spiritual power of congregational prayer, particularly in times of persecution and personal affliction. Drawing primarily from Acts chapter 12, it illustrates how the early church responded to Peter's imprisonment not with fear or retaliation, but with ceaseless, specific, and united prayer. The message highlights that true strength comes from recognizing human dependency on Christ rather than self-reliance, urging believers to approach God with honesty and humility. Additionally, the preacher connects this practice to Nehemiah chapter 9, showing how remembering God's past faithfulness and confessing sin leads to revival and renewed covenant commitment. Ultimately, the call is for the church to remain deeply connected to God through prayer, allowing His power to work through their collective dependence.

Throughout this sermon, Spurgeon complains that he is falling short of the subject which he has taken. I think other preachers, reading and responding to what he says, might long for such a failure as this! The text itself is a casket of pearls, and Spurgeon, after giving us a survey of them, urges us to ponder them more carefully for ourselves: "Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all my heart and with all my soul." Having considered some of what that means, perhaps the high point of the sermon then comes as Spurgeon considers the fact that this whole-hearted, whole-souled demonstration of practical love comes from the triune God, and is manifest in all the dealings of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those paragraphs are worth soaking in! Finally, he offers consolation and exhortation to the people of God, as we consider God's heart toward us and examine our own hearts toward him. The whole closes with a heartfelt plea from the preacher for those who do not yet know God's love in this way to come to him and receive all that is held out. I would urge you to read the whole sermon. I am persuaded it will do much good to our souls.

The sermon explores the Song of Moses in Exodus 15 as a model for integrating adoration with supplication, emphasizing that praise should follow God's deliverance rather than merely precede requests. It draws parallels between Israel's trapped state at the Red Sea and the believer's inability to resolve personal sin or crises through their own strength. The message encourages listeners to recognize their total dependence on Jesus for salvation and daily guidance, much like being carried across deep waters. By studying these ancient prayers, believers prepare themselves to trust in God's mercy during future trials. Ultimately, the text calls for a life of faith where adoration flows naturally from experiencing God's power and provision.

The sermon provides practical methods for deepening one's prayer life by utilizing the Book of Psalms as a guide. It distinguishes between praying like the Psalms, which involves adopting specific types such as praise, lament, and thanksgiving, and praying through the Psalms, a structured approach to personalizing individual psalm verses. Emphasizing meditation on Scripture and honest communion with God, the message encourages believers to move beyond repetitive or spontaneous prayer alone toward intentional, strategic disciplines. The speaker demonstrates these techniques using Psalm 23 to show how readers can organize, personalize, and pray through biblical text effectively. Ultimately, the goal is to equip individuals and families with tangible tools to grow in their daily walk with God.

The sermon defines prayer as intimate communion with God, emphasizing that believers are speaking to a personal Father rather than navigating an automated system. It highlights the Lord's Prayer as a model that prioritizes God's will and character before personal needs, teaching that requests should be made with humility and trust in divine mercy. The preacher argues that effective prayer is characterized by sincerity and heartfelt earnestness rather than eloquence or length. Using biblical examples like Jehoshaphat and David, the text illustrates that pouring out one's heart to God leads to peace even when answers differ from expectations. Ultimately, the message encourages believers to approach God boldly with their true desires, submitting fully to His wisdom and will.

This sermon emphasizes the imperative for preachers to focus exclusively on Jesus Christ rather than human achievements or moral duties. It highlights the Holy Spirit's role as the divine revealer who guides believers into the truth of Christ and regenerates souls through faith. The speaker contrasts modern preaching trends with the apostolic model found in Scripture, where the gospel is defined by the person and work of Christ. Key passages illustrate that true ministry glorifies Jesus by proclaiming His death, resurrection, and intercession without relying on worldly methods or self-promotion. Ultimately, the message calls for a return to centering all teaching on the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ for salvation.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. A sermon preached at Salem Baptist Chapel, Portsmouth by the late pastor, Mr. K. F. T. Matrunola. This was part of a series which Mr. Matrunola preached on the Epistle of James. The date it was preached is not known but a reference in the sermon to the Olympic Games in Seoul indicates that it would have been preached in the summer of 1988. Read by Mr. C. G. Parsons