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  HOW THE CHURCH FLOURISHES
  by C.H. Spurgeon
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Summary: The church flourishes on its own when left alone, but suffers
when tied to the state.

Topics: "The Power of Truth", "Independence of the Church"
Scripture References: Psalm 127:1, Isaiah 55:11, Matthew 16:18, John 18:36, Acts 5:29, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Ephesians 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:19, 1 Peter 2:9

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C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that the church flourishes when it relies
solely on God's truth, independent of worldly powers or influences. He
warns against the dangers of aligning the church with civil authority,
as this can corrupt its mission and dilute its message. Spurgeon asserts
that God's truth is powerful enough to prevail on its own, and that the
church should be led by those who embody righteousness rather than those
who wield earthly power. He encourages believers to trust in God's
mysterious ways to accomplish His purposes without human interference.

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CONTENT
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All through human history you will find the explanation of this
instructive fact: let God's truth alone, and it will take care of itself
without the aid of kings and princes, laws or establishments, endowments
or privileges. Only state the pure truth of revelation and it will force
its own way, but garnish and adorn it by your eloquent language, or
protect and guard it by your carnal wisdom and prudence, and the truth
goes into captivity.

Leave the church alone, O ye kings and princes, or persecute it if ye
will, for it will laugh your opposition to scorn; but pretend not to
propagate its doctrines by the civil power, for this is the worst curse
that can befall it. Take it under your patronage, and the mere touch of
your royal hands will create disease within it. Almost to the death has
the so-called "church" come down when her ministers like Hophni and
Phineas, have allied themselves with the temporal power; for God will do
His work by His own instruments, and in His own way; He will not be
indebted to the might of the flesh, but will defend His own glory by His
own mysterious power.

He uses for His instruments His consecrated ones who wear the white
linen, which is the righteousness of saints, and not the blood-stained
men of war arrayed in coat of mail and glittering breastplate of steel.

From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled "Dagon's Ups And
Downs."

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ch-spurgeon/how-the-church-flourishes/
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