Thankful for Liberty
We should be exceedingly glad and infinitely more grateful for the privilege of worshiping God in unlimited liberty.
C.H. Spurgeon expresses profound gratitude for the liberty to worship God freely without fear of persecution or oppression. He emphasizes the privilege of gathering in peace, reflecting on the sacrifices of those who came before us, and the blessings of living in a time where worship can be conducted openly and joyfully. Spurgeon encourages believers to recognize and appreciate this freedom, urging them to bless God for the peace and safety they enjoy in their worship. He highlights the importance of being thankful for the ability to worship under one's own vine and fig tree, free from fear.
Text
How grateful we ought to be that we can meet together to worship God after that form which best satisfies our consciences without any fear of being hunted down by the authorities of the land.... We put none at the front door of our conventicle to watch lest the constable should come to take off worshipper and minister, that they may suffer imprisonment or fine. We worship God in unlimited liberty, and we ought to be exceedingly glad of the privilege, and infinitely more grateful for it than we are. Do we not sit every man under his own vine and fig tree, none making us afraid? Blessed is the land in which we dwell, and blessed are the days in which we live, when in all peace and quietness we worship God in public and sing his high praises as loudly as we please.
Great God of peace, thou hast given us this peace, and in remembrance of our hunted forefathers we bless thee with our whole hearts!
From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled "The Peace Of God," delivered January 6, 1878
Sermon Outline
- I. The Privilege of Worshiping God in Liberty
- A. No fear of persecution or punishment
- B. Freedom to worship as we please
- II. The Contrast with the Past
- A. Our forefathers were hunted down for worshiping God
- B. We are blessed to live in a time of peace and freedom
- III. Our Gratitude and Praise
- A. We should be exceedingly glad for the privilege of worshiping God in liberty
- B. We should bless God for the peace and quietness in which we live
Key Quotes
“We worship God in unlimited liberty, and we ought to be exceedingly glad of the privilege, and infinitely more grateful for it than we are.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Blessed is the land in which we dwell, and blessed are the days in which we live, when in all peace and quietness we worship God in public and sing his high praises as loudly as we please.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should be thankful for the freedom to worship as we please, and live in a way that honors God and reflects His peace and love.
- We should bless God for the peace and quietness in which we live, and praise Him for the opportunity to worship Him publicly.
- We should learn from the past experiences of our forefathers and appreciate the value of freedom to worship God.