The Spurgeon Series 1855 & 1856. Charles H. Spurgeon

than the telegraph. You know we can now send a message and receive an answer in a few moments; but I read of something in the Bible more swift than the electric current. “Before they call I will answer, and while they are speaking I will hear.” So then, poor sinner, you are noticed: yes, you are heard by him that sits on the throne.

      5. Again, this was the announcement of a fact joyous to heaven. Our text is prefaced with “Behold,” for, doubtless, our Saviour himself regarded it with joy. Once only do we read of a smile resting on the countenance of Jesus, when lifting up his eye to heaven, he exclaimed, “I thank you, oh Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in your sight.” The Shepherd of our souls rejoices in the vision of his sheep securely in the fold, he triumphs in spirit when he brings a wanderer home. I conceive that when he spoke these words to Ananias, one of the smiles of paradise must have shone from his eyes. “Behold,” I have won the heart of my enemy; I have saved my persecutor; even now he is bending the knee at my footstool; “Behold he prays.” Jesus himself led the song, rejoicing over the new convert with singing. Jesus Christ was glad, and rejoiced more over that lost sheep than over ninety and nine that did not go astray. And angels rejoiced too. Why, when one of God’s elect is born, angels stand around his cradle. He grows up, and runs into sin, angels follow him, tracking him all his way, they gaze with sorrow upon his many wanderings; the fair Peri {a} drops a tear whenever that loved one sins. Presently the man is brought under the sound of the gospel. The angel says, “Behold, he begins to hear.” He waits a little while, the word sinks into his heart, a tear runs down his check, and at last he cries from his inmost soul, “God have mercy upon me!” See! the angel claps his wings, up he flies to heaven, and says, “Brethren angels, listen to me: ‘Behold, he prays.’ ” Then they set heaven’s bells ringing; they have a jubilee in glory; again they shout with gladsome voices, for truly I tell you, “there is joy in heaven among the angels of God over one sinner that repents.” They watch us until we pray, and when we pray, they say, “Behold, he prays.”

      6. Moreover, my dear friends, there may be other spirits in heaven that rejoice, besides the angels. Those people are our friends who have gone before us. I have not many relations in heaven, but I have one whom I dearly love, who, I do not doubt, often prayed for me. For she nursed me when I was a child and brought me up during part of my infancy, and now she sits before the throne in glory — suddenly snatched away. I fancy she looked upon her darling grandson, and as she saw him in the ways of sin, of vice, and folly; she could not look with sorrow, for there are no tears in the eyes of glorified ones; she could not look with regret, because they cannot know such a feeling before the throne of God; but ah! that moment when by sovereign grace, I was constrained to pray, when all alone I bent my knee and wrestled, I think I see her as she said, “Behold, he prays; behold, he prays.” Oh! I can picture her countenance. She seemed to have two heavens for a moment, a double bliss, a heaven in me as well as in herself, — when she could say, “Behold, he prays.” Ah! young man, there is your mother walking the golden streets. She is looking down upon you this hour. She nursed you, on her breast you lay when only a child, and she consecrated you to Jesus Christ. From heaven, she has been watching you with that intense anxiety which is compatible with happiness; this morning she is looking upon you. What do you say, young man? Does Christ by his Spirit say in your heart, “Come to me?” Do you drop the tear of repentance? I think I see your mother as she cries, “Behold, he prays.” Once more she bends before the throne of God and says, “I thank you, oh ever gracious one, that he who was my child on earth, has now become your child in light.”

      7. But, if there is one in heaven who has more joy than another over the conversion of a sinner, it is a minister, one of God’s true ministers. Oh, my hearers, you little think how God’s true ministers do love your souls. Perhaps you think it is easy work to stand here and preach to you. God knows, if that were all there was to it, it would be easy work; but when we think that when we speak to you, your salvation or damnation, in some measure, depends upon what we say — when we reflect that if we are unfaithful watchmen, God will require your blood at our hands — oh, good God, when I reflect that I have preached to thousands in my lifetime, many thousands, and have perhaps said many things I ought not to have said, it startles me, it makes me shake and tremble. Luther said he could face his enemies, but could not go up his pulpit stairs without his knees knocking together. Preaching is not child’s play; it is not a thing to be done without labour and anxiety; it is solemn work; it is awesome work, if you view it in its relation to eternity. Ah! how God’s minister prays for you! If you might have listened under the eaves of his chamber window, you would have heard him groaning every Sunday night over his sermons because he had not spoken with more effect, you would have heard him pleading with God, “Who has believed our report? To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” Ah, when he observes you, from his rest in heaven — when he sees you praying, how he will clap his hands and say, “Behold, the child you have given me! behold, he prays.” I am sure when we see one brought to know the Lord, we feel very much like one who has saved a fellow creature from being drowned. There is a poor man in the flood; he is going down, he is sinking, he must be drowned; but I spring in, grasp him firmly, lift him on the shore, and lay him on the ground; the physician comes; he looks at him, he puts his hand upon him, and says, “I am afraid he is dead.” We apply all the means in our power, we do what we can to restore life. I feel I have been that man’s deliverer, and oh, how I stoop down and put my ear beside his mouth! at last, I say, “He breathes! he breathes!” What pleasure there is in that thought! He breathes; there is life still. So when we find a man praying, we shout — he breathes; he is not dead; he is alive; for while a man prays he is not dead in trespasses and sins, but is brought to life, is quickened by the power of the Spirit. “Behold, he prays.” This was joyful news in heaven, as well as being noticed by God.

      8. Then in the next place, this was an event most astonishing to men. Ananias lifted up both his hands in amazement. “Oh my Lord, I would have thought anyone would pray but that man! is it possible!” I do not know how it is with other ministers, but sometimes I look upon such-and-such individuals in the congregation, and I say, “Well, they are very hopeful; I think I shall have them. I trust there is a work going on, and hope soon to hear them tell what the Lord has done for their souls.” Soon, perhaps, I see nothing of them, and miss them altogether; but instead of that, my good Master sends me one of whom I had no hope — an outcast, a drunkard, a reprobate, to the praise of the glory of his grace. Then I lift up my hands in astonishment, thinking, “I would have thought of anyone rather than you.” I remember a circumstance which occurred a little while ago. There was a poor man about sixty years old; he had been a rough sailor, one of the worst men in the village; it was his custom to drink, and he seemed to be delighted when he was cursing and swearing. He came into the chapel, however, one Sunday, when one closely related to me was preaching from the text concerning Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. And the poor man thought, “What! did Jesus Christ ever weep over such a wretch as I am?” He thought he was too bad for Christ to care for him. At last he came to the minister, and said, “Sir, sixty years have I been sailing under the colours of the devil; it is time I should have a new owner; I want to scuttle the old ship and sink her altogether; then I shall have a new one, and I shall sail under the colours of Prince Emmanuel.” Ever since that moment that man has been a praying character, walking before God in all sincerity. Yet he was the very last man you would have thought of. Somehow God does choose the last men; he does not care for the diamond, but he picks up the pebble stones for he is able, out of “stones, to raise up children to Abraham.” God is more wise than the chemist: he not only refines gold, but he transmutes base metal into precious jewels; he takes the filthiest and the vilest, and fashions them into glorious beings, makes them saints, whereas they have been sinners, and sanctifies them, whereas they have been unholy.

      9. The conversion of Saul was a strange thing; but, beloved, was it stranger than that you and I should have been Christians? Let me ask you if anyone had told you, a few years ago, that you would belong to a church and be numbered with the children of God, what would you have said? “Stuff and nonsense! I am not one of your canting Methodists; I am not going to have any religion; I love to think and do as I like.” Did you and I not say so? and how on earth did we get here? When we look at