1836. First Healing And Then Service

No. 1836-31:217. A Sermon Delivered On Lord’s Day Morning, April 19, 1885, By C. H. Spurgeon, At The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington.

And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered to them. {Mt 8:14,15}

1. This event took place at Capernaum, but Peter’s residence was at Bethsaida; for we read, “Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.” How come Peter had a house at Capernaum? Poor fishermen do not often have two houses. May not the conjecture be highly probable that, finding the Lord Jesus Christ was frequently at Capernaum, Peter thought it best to have a dwelling there, so that he might always be present when the Master was preaching, and that he might do his best to entertain him when he was there? I like to think that the servant changed his place of abode for his Master’s sake. Would it not be good if many Christian people had a little consideration when they are choosing a house, as to whether it will be convenient for the hearing of the word? Do you not think that a great many professors look chiefly for every other kind of advantage, and, when they have virtually made their choice, then they enquire into the very secondary item of their nearness to a place where they may worship God, enjoy Christian fellowship, and be useful? There are some in this congregation who have moved to this part of town to become members of an earnest, prayerful church. Such believers feel that the first consideration in life must be the health of their souls, the benefiting of their children, and their usefulness in promoting the cause of Christ. When they have made the selection of a house in that way and for that reason, they have found a blessing resting upon them, according to the promise, “Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.” Some who have forgotten this rule, and, like Lot, chosen the well-watered plains of Sodom, have lived to rue their choice. Although the house may be commodious, and the position convenient, these advantages will not make up for losing the means of grace and missing opportunities for holy service. When Mephibosheth lived at Lodebar, the place of no pasture, David brought him up to Jerusalem, where he himself delighted to dwell. It would be good for many a limping brother if he made a similar change. So, before we actually cross the threshold of Peter’s house we learn a lesson.

2. Our Lord Jesus Christ had been having a heavy day: he had been to the synagogue, and he had preached and had performed miracles; he had moved in the midst of a great throng, and now the Sabbath was drawing to a close he needed refreshment, and it was most convenient that Peter had a house into which the Lord could go. I do not suppose it was a stately mansion, probably it was little better than a hut; for Peter was only a fisherman: but the Lord Jesus made it honourable enough by entering it. Where the king is there the palace is.

3. Though our Lord went to Peter’s house to rest, he did not find it free from trouble. It was a hospital before he made it a palace. Peter’s wife’s mother was on her bed prostrate with “a great fever.” Typhus of the worst kind was burning out her life. However good a man may be, he will not escape trial in the flesh. You may have a house full of sanctity and full of sickness at the same time. We find it true while we are here, that “the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness.” The regenerated spirit has risen into life, but the body lingers under the power of death, and its attendant pain and weakness. Certain people attribute all sickness to the devil, and impute special sin to those who are grievously afflicted. This teaching is as false as it is cruel. “Whom the Lord loves he chastens.” I can bear witness that some of the saintliest people I have ever known have been bedridden for many years; and others in whom the very image of Christ was conspicuous, from whose lips all around the country gathered up the choicest sentences of holy experience, have been invalids for twenty or thirty years at a stretch. Our sicknesses are by the Lord’s appointing however painful they may be, and we may without doubt say, as David did, “The Lord has chastened me severely.” “Lord, he whom you love is sick,” is still a truth. Even Peter’s house, though it is the abode of a chosen saint, and a leading disciple, whose very shadow would one day heal the sick, had a terrible fever in it which threatened death. Yet Jesus came where the fever polluted the air. If the disease had come, the great Physician had come also. We are not alarmed at the Cross if Christ comes with it.

4. Notice, with regard to our Lord’s entering the house of Peter, that he came there with his three most favoured disciples. If you read the statement given by Mark in his first chapter you may be somewhat surprised to discover Peter, James, and John there. We read, — “When they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.” Whether Andrew was there or not I cannot tell: he was joint proprietor of the house, but he is not mentioned as being there. Whenever you see Peter, James, and John present together with the Lord, you may look for special wonders. These were the men who beheld the Lord’s very great glory on the Mount: these were nearest to the agony of Gethsemane: these were admitted to behold the raising from the dead of the young maiden when the Lord put out all the gathered company. To this most select triumvirate Jesus displayed himself as he did not to the rest of the disciples, much less to the world. By this did not the Saviour give us notice that the healing of Peter’s wife’s mother was a choice display of his power and grace, and was intended to convey a lesson to the choicer spirits among his followers? I think so, and therefore I shall so use the incident. To you who love Jesus much, and live in special nearness to him, there is a voice from the bed of her who rose from the fever to minister to her Lord. You also are called from your weakness so that you may pay personal service to him who heals all your diseases.

5. Yet though Jesus and Peter and James and John were there, nothing is before you except a family group, a scene in a house. True religion displays its greatest marvels around the domestic hearth. A fisherman’s mother-in-law becomes a historic personage through the Lord’s touching her. What glory Jesus casts upon common things! With what grandeur he invests a room in a poor man’s house! A fisherman’s hut becomes the headquarters of the Captain of our salvation. He heals a woman within its doors, and before long “all the city was gathered together at the door.” Oh that we may see the same: our own dear ones saved, and then the whole city roused to seek divine healing!

6. We will arrange our discourse under the headings of four observations.

7. I. First, let us observe that IT MAY BE WE HAVE SOME IN OUR HOUSE WHO NEED THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD JESUS. One in Peter’s house could not as yet minister to Christ, for she needed that Christ should minister to her. She was sick with a great fever, and quite prostrated by it, so as to be altogether unable to rise. Let us think whether we do not have some around us who are spiritually sick, in a way which may be compared to a great fever.

8. What would the fever represent? Those who are in a fever represent spiritually those who are on fire with sin. The original word for “fever” bears a close relationship to the word “fire.” The world’s great poet speaks of “the fiery fever.” A burning heat inflames the body, quickens the pulse to an unnatural pace, parches the mouth and tongue, and dries up the entire system. Those who have a fever in their souls are hot after sin, dried up with evil desires, inflamed with evil lusts. What unhealthy energy many even show in the indulgence of their passions, or in the pursuit of their ambitions: they are so inflamed with their desires that their life is consumed. Have we not seen some whom we dearly loved afflicted with this fierce distemper? Touch upon certain points, and we discover that they are diseased in reference to them; they are in an inflamed state of mind; they cannot be made to think coolly or judge calmly, but they grow excited and angry. Their touch is that of a fevered hand; their whole nature is burning with the fire of sin. Such people are not always equally inflamed; they are frequently gentle and tractable; so much so, that we are filled with hope concerning them. Often fever is intermittent; the patient is hot at one time, and cold at another; and in many sinners the fever of sin is intermittent in its symptoms. They are not always drinking; sometimes they are sober for a long time, and express themselves as deeply penitent for former falls. What pleasant company, what fine congenial spirits they are at such times! The fever returns, and nothing can restrain them: they drink even to delirium. Alas, the misery which is caused by this! Others are gentle, and loving for a time; and then they suddenly give way to anger, and there is no knowing what they will say or do. When once the fever is on them they become as inflamed as ever. We know people from whom the heat of the fever is so long gone that we think surely they are healed; but, alas, their cool times are only a pause between the attacks, and the evil returns with increased energy. Their goodness is like the morning cloud, and like the early dew; it comes hopefully, but it disappears utterly. We have mistaken the period between the fever fits for the calm of a cure, but it has not turned out to be so; they have, perhaps, been even worse after their hopeful times than they ever were before; like him from whom the evil spirit went out of his own accord, only to return again, and bring with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself to enter in and reside there. Have you not such cases under your own roofs, or among your next of kin — poor souls inflamed with the terrible heat of sin?

9. These fevered people are frequently very restless. It is one result of the fever that the man cannot lie for long either on this side or on the other, but tosses to and fro. Even his sleep is broken; neither by day nor by night can he find rest. He is dried up, and feels as weak as if he were brought into the dust of death and utterly dissolved. His experience is not so much pain as something worse than pain, an utter absence of rest. Do you not have friends who in this sense are feverish? I had almost said I hope they are so, if they are, indeed, under the power of sin. There are signs of life where unrest abounds. We know young men with happy homes who cannot be content; they seem resolved to break their mothers’ hearts, and their fathers do not know what to do with them. Nothing pleases them, they are always unsettled. They have been employed in half-a-dozen businesses already, and have left each one of them: they are now longing for a foreign country, or for enlistment in the army, or for anything other than their present calling. We have known them to go to the colonies and come back again, finding nothing there; a sea voyage was to cure them, but, alas, a sinner on land is a sinner at sea. The malady is inward, and needs change of self rather than change of place. Under the influence of the fever of sin men wish, and do not know what they wish for; they are like a rolling thing before the whirlwind, or as waves of the sea driven with the wind and tossed: no part of them seems to be at rest, a kind of madness possesses them. Above all, there is a restlessness about them in reference to sin: they sin, but they are not pleased; and after they have sinned they are eaten up by remorse, a remorse, however, which is not practically operative; for they go back to sin again; flying like the moth to the candle where they have already burned their wings. Such people often become irritable towards their friends when checked in their wrong-doing, and even become at last, like Pashur in the book of Jeremiah, a terror to themselves and to their friends.

10. I may be treading on tender ground in all this. I believe my words are true to the letter. I shall ask Christian people who do not have this heavy trouble to be very thankful, and to pray to God for those who have. With those dear friends who have to endure the severe affliction of having such in their family I desire to sympathise, and to encourage them to bring these feverish spirits to the Lord Jesus by prayer and faith, that in them the parable of the prodigal may be literally fulfilled.

11. One symptom of a fever is that a man loses appetite for what would be good for him. Some of our unconverted friends have no taste for the gospel; we cannot easily induce them to come to hear it. If you could get them under the sound of the word, you would sit and pray, and even agonize for them, all the while the truth was being preached; but, alas! they will not come near; they have no taste, no liking, no care for heavenly things; the thing they most require is that for which they have the least desire. Yet, do not fear; Jesus can give them an appetite, and everything else which is necessary for a perfect cure.

12. On the other hand, a fevered patient often feels a great thirst, which he cannot by any means allay. He longs to drink and drink again, and with all his drinking the heat is not abated. Sometimes the sick man has an appetite for what he must not taste, he craves after the most injurious and even unnatural things; he prefers foods which would be most pernicious. So it is with unconverted ones when under the full power of sin; they are eager enough to hear a godless lecture, or to listen to opinions which are the opposite of truth; they would go through any hardship to indulge their passions, and sacrifice any amount to be allowed their desires. As the horse-leech cries, “Give, give,” so sin is insatiable. Sin can never yield satisfaction to the soul of man: as well might the thirsty hope to relieve their anguish by draughts of brine. Just as it is with cups of wine, so it is with sin; one makes room for another. He who has sinned will sin. It is an awful part of the punishment of sin that it grows into a habit and increases in intensity as it is indulged. I may correctly say of the black well of sin, “He who drinks this water shall thirst again and thirst more.” Sin is a thing of rapid propagation and never remains alone. You cannot retain one sin in the house by itself, for it will before long produce a numerous progeny, a generation of vipers, as many as the hairs of your head. What a dreadful thing it is for a man to have a fever which makes him thirst for what increases his thirst.

13. But the worst point in the case of the sinner is this, that this fever of his will prove fatal. This son, daughter, husband, or wife of yours will perish through the fever of sin, if it is not cured. A great fever is a great danger, and so is sin. In our Lord’s days men did not know how to deal with fever so well as now, therefore those who were taken with it were doomed. This poor woman would have died if Jesus had not intervened: so it is with the sinful ones whose cases we deplore.

14. So I have described the disease: what shall we do with it? Let us see what the disciples did.

15. Mark says, “Immediately they told him about her.” I would earnestly persuade you to do the same. Take the case of the person who is laid upon your heart and spread it before the Lord. Go over the matter in detail; not for his information, but to stimulate your own prayerfulness. Look the matter in the face, making no excuses for the sinner, and in all truthfulness tell the Lord what ails the sinful one. Pour out your heart before the Lord, and sorrow over the lost one, even as Samuel mourned over Saul, only with better hope. Tell the case to Jesus just as you would mention a physical case to a doctor. He is ready to hear it all, and to consider it. Make a confidant of Jesus. Do not go and complain all over the neighbourhood, “My boy does this,” or “My husband does that,” for you may increase the evil in that way by incensing the person against yourself and your religion. You may tell Jesus all about it, without restraint. No harm can come from such a relationship. It will be a relief to your own mind, and it will be the most proper way of engaging your Lord to help you.

16. Luke tells us “they besought him for her.” After you have stated the case to your Lord, then plead with him, plead his promises, and plead his nature, plead the need of the case, and the glory which a cure will bring. Let it be no cold prayer, but a warm, hearty, intense entreaty. Do not wrangle with sinners about religion, but wrestle with Christ about them. Beseech the sinners for Christ, but never fail to beseech Christ for the sinners. When little can be done with men you can still do much with Jesus. It will be of very little use to be always worrying them with, “You should not do this,” and, “You should not do that”: but it will be of infinite service to go and say, “Lord, have mercy upon these poor souls who do not know you.” Never give up praying for your prodigals as long as there is breath in their bodies; no, not even if they curse you for doing so.

17. We also find that when they had told Jesus about her, and had besought him, then they brought him into the room; so that we read in our text, “When Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.” They seemed to say, “Lord, this is all we can do. We would have you look upon the dying woman and consider her. There she is.” Can you not by faith so experience the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ that you see him viewing the lost estate of those for whom you are concerned? Your friend is fevered with sin, but Jesus sees it. Your boy is restless, but Jesus watches him. Your daughter is likely to perish, but Christ looks upon her. Every day let your persistent prayers keep them under Christ’s eye. Bring to Jesus all your sinful ones; lay them at his feet; leave them in his presence. When you have done all this: when you have told him about her, and besought him about her, and brought him to the house to look upon her, then you may expect his healing touch and saving word.

18. That is our first remark.

19. II. Secondly: THE MINISTRY OF JESUS MUST PRECEDE THE MINISTRY OF THE SAVED ONES.

20. We anxiously desire that these friends of ours who are now sick with the fever of sin should yet become the servants of Christ, and should minister to him. I can imagine the joy of that anxious mother over there if she should ever be privileged to hear her boy preach the gospel — that boy who has even been known to swear. What delight would fill the wife’s heart if she could hear her infidel husband engage publicly in prayer. Some of you are thinking now of certain gifted people who are using all their abilities against the cause of Christ, and “Oh,” you say, “if they might be converted, my heart would dance with delight.” This is a good desire, but do not indulge it unwisely. Do not ask them to do anything for Jesus while they are unregenerate. Healing must come before serving. When a person is “lying sick with a fever,” do not ask her to rise and wait upon the Lord Jesus Christ. No — his ministry to Peter’s wife’s mother preceded her ministry to him. She was “lying,” that is, prostrated by the terrible malady. Just as a body greatly weakened seems to cling to the bed, and almost sink into it, so was she: she was like a crushed thing, or a sheep thrown on its back in a trench, and so she was powerless to do anything. It is like this with the sinner. What can he do for Christ? “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” There is no strength in an ungodly man with which to serve God. He has no faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God: he has no love, and even if a deed were done properly, yet if there was no love as the motive it could not be acceptable with God. The sinner, in fact, has no spiritual life, and if he should try to do good works they would be dead works, and could not please the living God. Out of a foul spring no clean waters can come, and out of a corrupt heart no acceptable works can proceed. Christ must give us strength, and cause us both to will and to do his own good pleasure, for without him we can do nothing.

21. Moreover, this sick woman was utterly unfit to do anything for Jesus and his disciples with a great fever in her. Everywhere she went she would spread the contagion of her malady. Everything she touched would be infected: any food she prepared would be nauseous even to think upon. Let her stay in her bed, by all means, and do not let anyone go near her unless they are compelled to do so; for fever soon seizes upon new victims. So you who are ungodly cannot serve Christ, for everything you do is defiled: you cannot lay your hand even upon holy things without polluting them. Your thoughts are feverish, your words are feverish, your acts are feverish: therefore we cannot invite your co-operation in the work of the Lord. You would do more harm than good, if as sinful men you pretended to render service to a holy God. Such is your natural depravity that you would spread infection all around, even if you attempted to minister to the Lord Jesus.

22. What is more, a person sick with a fever, if in her feverishness she were to arise and wait upon guests would receive no good, but run terrible risks. People in fever must not be exposed to drafts, or be driven to exert themselves. Every doctor would judge it to be most injurious for a person in a high state of fever to attempt to work. I solemnly believe that unconverted people are harmed when they attempt religious duties. To preach with an unrenewed heart must be to pronounce one’s own death-warrant. If unrenewed men come to the sacramental table they eat and drink condemnation to themselves; and if they in any way make a profession of faith they are enacting a falsehood in the sight of high heaven, since they have no such faith. “To the wicked God says, ‘What have you to do to declare my statutes?’ ” No, you must stand back, you who have never been washed in the blood of the Lamb. You cannot minister to Christ while the red fever is on your brow. He who has seraphim for his servants does not need feverish services from souls diseased with iniquity. King Jesus wants no slaves to swell his train; you must be freed first from the yoke of sin, and then you shall become the servants of the Lord.

23. Listen to me, any fevered ones who are here, while I briefly describe how the Lord Jesus Christ ministered to this woman.

24. He ministered to her by his presence. His being in the room with her meant that salvation was come to her house. Beloved, believe that Jesus Christ is here. To his ministers he has said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” I want you to know that he is not confined within the heavenly gates, but he is here, and his power to save is present in the midst of this assembly, and will be present in your room when you go home and fall upon your knees.

25. The next thing that blessed this woman was his look. “Jesus saw her.” There is more here than appears on the surface. You know what a physician means when he says, “I will come and see your sick child.” He does not mean that he will merely look at him: he intends to search into the matter, study it, and see what can be done. Will you try to think that the Lord Jesus Christ sees you, that he reads your heart, knows your secret thoughts, hears your secret groanings, and notices your inward desires? He perceives the power which sin has over you, the difficulty you find in coming to him; — he sees it all, and knows how to deal with it. Not only is Jesus near at hand, but he is present with his eyes open, observing all that ails you — seeing it with a mind which is deeply sympathetic, and a heart quick to relieve.

26. The next thing the Lord Jesus Christ used was his touch. This is the healing point. He “took her by the hand, and lifted her up.” There was a contact established. Oh, that glorious doctrine of the incarnation of Christ, there is healing in it! I do not mean in the doctrine but in the fact itself, that the Lord Jesus Christ took our flesh, and became man, “bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh.” Thus he touches us, and heals us. Had he not been man he could not have died, and had he not died we must have died for ever. God in Christ Jesus is very near to you, poor soul; so near to you that if you by faith touch the hem of his garment, you are saved. If you believe in the Lord Jesus, he is in contact with you; his cool hand is grasping your fevered hand; and as your fever dissolves into him, — for “he himself bore our sicknesses” — his health flows into you, so that you may arise and minister to him. Contact by faith with Jesus Christ our Lord is the ordained means of salvation.

27. And there was, besides this contact, another form of power; our Lord spoke to the fever. His word is a word of might. If the touch of our Lord represents incarnation, his word represents resurrection; for by hearing the voice of the Son of God all the dead shall arise from their graves. His word is quickening; and where it falls it proves itself to be a living and incorruptible seed. By the word of the Lord, even by the gospel of Jesus, the fever of sin is driven out of men and women. Oh, that the Lord Jesus may now speak to you by these lips of mine, — speak with power almighty to your hearts! Oh, that you, poor sin-sick sinner, may hear the word of the Lord with your inner ears, for such hearing is eternal life! May God help you so to hear.

28. There is healing for you; and I warn you again that you must have this healing before you can work for Jesus. Your Lord must begin with you before you can begin with him. Do not go blundering out of the Tabernacle and say, “I will take a class in the Sunday School” “I will try to preach”; “I will give my money to the Lord’s cause.” To stand back until you are healed; weep and pray, and agonize until you are healed. You must receive from Jesus all he has to give before you can give anything to him.

29. This may sound harsh to you who mean well, but God forbid that I should bolster you up in a zeal for God which is not according to knowledge. Aliens cannot stand in the Lord’s courts; you must be made Israelites before you can be priests to God. First, salvation, then service.

30. III. Thirdly, it is plainly taught in the text that STRENGTH TO MINISTER COMES WITH HEALING. “Immediately she arose and ministered to them.”

31. Fever causes extreme weakness, and when it leaves the patient, he is for a considerable time greatly debilitated. The cures of nature are slow; but when Jesus cures, he does it at once. Though he uses only a touch and a word, yet he cures so perfectly that no weakness remains. The woman did not lie in bed for a week or two, and feed upon nourishing diet, and so recover her strength; but then and there she arose from her bed, girt her garments about her, and went about the duties of the household. Is it not wonderful to see her hurry to the kitchen, to prepare the evening meal for the Lord Jesus Christ and his friends? With gratitude beaming from her face, she placed each dish upon the table, and brought out water with which her guests might wash their feet. The moment the Lord Jesus Christ saves a soul he gives that soul strength for its appointed service.

32. I want to call your attention to this, that her service was immediate service, rendered on the spot, without delay. Some of you have been converted during our recent special services; let me tell you to serve the Lord at once, even as the Lord has served you. “What, get to work immediately?” Yes, immediately; for there is something very beautiful about what is done by new converts. Oh, the beauty of that first look of love! Oh, the sweetness of those first notes of praise! Oh, the power of those first sentences of testimony! I do not find any fault with our dear old saints: there is a richness and maturity about them; but still my soul desires the first-ripe fruits. There is a pungency of flavour about the first berries of grace; and even a kind of tartness about them, which makes their taste all the more perceptible to those who are dull and careless. Give me fruit with the dew of the morning on it. New blood in the veins of the church is a great promoter of its health and vigour. The first-fruits are in some respects the best fruits. I would not have a converted person wait a week before trying to do something for Jesus. Run as soon as you find your feet.

33. But notice that what this good woman did was very appropriate. Peter’s wife’s mother did not get out of bed and go down the street and deliver an address to an assembled multitude. Women are best when they are quiet. I share the apostle Paul’s feelings when he told women to be silent in the assembly. Yet there is work for holy women, and we read about Peter’s wife’s mother that she arose and ministered to Christ. She did what she could and what she should. She arose and ministered to him. Some people can do nothing that they are allowed to do, but waste their energies in lamenting that they are not called on to do other people’s work. Blessed are those who do what they should do. It is better to be a good housewife, or nurse, or domestic servant, than to be a powerless preacher or a graceless talker. She did not arise and prepare a lecture, nor preach a sermon, but she arose and prepared a supper, and that was what she was equipped to do. Was she not a housewife? As a housewife let her serve the Lord. I do not say that if you were converted a week ago you are at once to preach. No: but you are to minister to the Lord in the way for which you are best qualified, and that may happen to be by a living testimony to his grace in your daily calling. We greatly err when we dream that only a preacher can minister to the Lord — for Jesus has work of all sorts for all kinds of followers. Paul speaks of women who helped him much, and, assuredly, since there is no idle angel there ought to be no idle Christian. We are not saved for our own sakes, but that we may be of service to the Lord and to his people; let us not miss our calling.

34. When healed of her fever, Peter’s wife’s mother had strength to perform a suitable ministry, such as the particular occasion required. She did for Jesus and the three companions what was necessary then and there. Jesus had had a hard day’s preaching, and that is hungry work: he had spent a heavy day in healing, and that is exhausting work; and now he wanted something to eat, and therefore he came into Peter’s house. The principal worker there was laid aside, and so our Lord did not ask for refreshment. He always thought of others before himself; and when he was faint and hungry he ignored his own needs until he restored health to the fevered woman. This being done, the next necessary thing was that the wearied preacher and physician should be refreshed, and this the grateful woman attended to. When our Lord sat on the well and talked with the woman of Samaria, he was faint and weary, and asked for a drink; but he set aside the claims of nature until he had preached the gospel to her. Then came the disciples with the food which they had bought. On this occasion at Peter’s house the refreshment was ministered by her who had just left her bed. “She arose and ministered to them.” Now, dear friends, you who are converted may minister to Christ in a way which is as necessary as the service of his ablest preachers and pastors. There is something for you to do which will be a refreshment for him and for his servants. He condescendingly permits it, and will graciously accept it. You can personally minister to a personal Christ. You cannot do everything, but you can do something that will be acceptable to him. You may; you can; and you ought. Ministry to Jesus is practical, permissible, acceptable, and obligatory. You owe your very life to him. Come, spend that life in his service. Immediately, this very day, minister to Jesus. If you have only been saved today yet there is something incumbent for the day; and in its place it is as necessary for the glory of God as the ministry of cherubim and seraphim. Now then, do it. I will not urge you, because I can see in my last point something that will move you to it.

35. IV. THE DESIRE TO MINISTER ALWAYS ARISES OUT OF HEALING.

36. Here was a woman, a poor woman, an old woman, a widow woman, one who had just been sick, and she desires at once to minister to Christ, and she can do it, and she does do it. How do you think was she moved to this? Was it not that strength naturally suggests activity as soon as you ever get it? When you are very prostrate you do not want to do anything. You feel as if you must lie still — there is no power in you, and there is no industry in you; but people who have recovered want something to do. Sometimes they try to do more than they can, such is the suggestion of revived strength. Now, if the Lord has given you spiritual life, that life will want to work; if he has given you light, that light will shine. “Now candle, do not shine.” Will the candle take any notice of you? No, it cannot help shining if it has been lit. If Christ has given you his grace, and it is in you as a well of living water, it must flow out so that others may drink. It is of no use saying, “Water, do not flow — fountain, cease.” The fountain cannot help it; it must send out its streams; and it must be so with you. The strength God has given you in Christ suggests activity.

37. And then the gratitude for the strength impels you to activity. How can a man be still when Christ has spoken for him and delivered him? We read in the paper some time ago that the King of Italy, to his great honour, appeared in a court of law on behalf of a man brought up under the charge of causing a death. The King had seen the accident, and he came forward as a common witness in the court to say that the horse had mastered the driver, and the man was not to be blamed. I do not know the name of the man, but I feel pretty sure that Jacobi or Antonio, whoever he may be, if ever King Humbert wants someone to speak up for him will find a friend in him: he will say, “My King came into court and spoke for me, and I will as long as I ever live speak up for him.” Now, the Lord Jesus Christ is an advocate for you, therefore be an advocate for him. Can you ever be silent for Christ now that the Lord Christ has redeemed you from the curse of the law and the penalty of sin? I tell you, if you can be quiet and do nothing for Christ, I am afraid you have never tasted of his love and grace.

38. Once more, I think I may say that those who are healed by Christ are sure to do something for him of the right kind, because their former habits will assist them. I do not mean by this that sinful activity can ever help us into holy activity, but I do mean this; that we can turn our old habits to account for Jesus. I believe that Peter’s wife’s mother was a particularly nice old lady. There is rather a prejudice against a wife’s mother, and if Peter found it the proper thing to have her living in the house, I am sure she was an especially good woman. I have a picture of her in my mind’s eye, — a dear old soul, always busy and happy. When there was nothing else to do she would mend the stockings, or do any commonplace work. She was always busy. You never had to ask her to work, she did it of her own accord. At cooking the meals and preparing everything for the house she was perfectly at home, never grumbling, never complaining, never setting the husband against the wife, but always looking out to do everything that possibly could be done to make the household go along in all its concerns with oiled wheels. When she had the fever she did not like to be laid aside; and so the moment she is restored, there she is at it. The ruling passion is strong now that death has been removed. She begins to serve Jesus, for she had always been serving someone. When Jesus came into the house, with Peter, and James, and John, she could not bear to think that there was nothing for supper; but the moment she felt well, away she went to the kitchen, with all the utensils of her cookery craft, to prepare the best meal within her power. You people who, when you were not converted, were always active, ought to be doubly active now. In the family do all for the Lord Jesus Christ.

39. Those commonplace things, — sweeten and flavour them with love for him: reverence him and glorify him in all that you do. Is there not something you can do for your neighbour, something you can do for your children, some part of the Lord’s work you can undertake?

40. As for you, young men who have been so restless, so vigorous, so dashing in sin, it seems to me that this habitual energy ought to be placed under consecration to Christ. A horse that has no mettle in it is easily managed; still, a horse with a little mettle, though he may kick, and buck, and do a great deal of mischief, is all the better horse when he is broken in. If he is under proper management, if he answers to the bit, you like the mettle. So it is with a man when he is converted. If he had mettle in him that led him to kick and buck when he served the devil, if he did so much mischief and damage against the kingdom of Christ, he is the very man to pull well in Jesus Christ’s chariot. I pray the Master, therefore, that he will come and heal that young man of his feverishness and make his blood cool within him today, and restore him by his grace. Oh that the Lord would touch all sick folk and make them healthy! Then when all are healed let us rise to serve him who has served us, and to him be glory for ever and ever. Amen and amen.

[Portion Of Scripture Read Before Sermon — Mt 8:1-17]
{See Spurgeon_Hymnal “Spirit of the Psalms — Psalm 103” 103 @@ "(Version 2)"}
{See Spurgeon_Hymnal “Spirit of the Psalms — Psalm 116” 116 @@ "(Song 2)"}
{See Spurgeon_Hymnal “Spirit of the Psalms — Psalm 116” 116 @@ "(Song 3)"}
{See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 3564, “Publications” 3566 @@ "My Sermon Notes"}

Spirit of the Psalms
Psalm 103 (Version 1)
1 My soul, repeat his praise,
      Whose mercies are so great;
   Whose anger is so slow to rise,
      So ready to abate.
2 God will not always chide;
      And when his strokes are felt,
   His strokes are fewer than our crimes,
      And lighter than our guilt.
3 High as the heavens are raised
      Above the ground we tread,
   So far the riches of his grace
      Our highest thought exceed.
4 His power subdues our sins;
      And his forgiving love,
   Far as the east is from the west,
      Doth all our guilt remove.
5 The pity of the Lord,
      To those that fear his name,
   Far as the east is from the west,
      He knows our feeble frame.
6 He knows we but dust,
      Scatter’d with every breath;
   His anger, like a rising wind,
      Can send us swift to death.
7 Our days are as the grass,
      Or like the morning flower;
   If one sharp blast sweep o’er the field,
      It withers in an hour.
8 But thy compassions, Lord,
      To endless years endure;
   And children’s children ever find,
      Thy words of promise sure.
                        Isaac Watts, 1719.

Psalm 103 (Version 2)
1 Oh bless the Lord, my soul!
      Let all within me join,
   And aid my tongue to bless his name,
      Whose favours are divine.
2 Oh, bless the Lord, my soul,
      Nor let his mercies lie
   Forgotten in unthankfulness,
      And without praises die.
3 ‘Tis he forgives thy sins;
      ‘Tis he relieves thy pain;
   ‘Tis he that heals thy sicknesses,
      And makes thee young again.
4 He crowns thy life with love,
      When ransom’d from the grave;
   He that redeem’d my soul from hell
      Hath sovereign power to save.
5 He fills the poor with good,
      He gives the sufferers rest;
   The Lord hath judgments for the proud,
      And justice for the oppress’d
6 His wondrous works and ways
      He made by Moses known;
   But sent the world his truth and grace
      By his beloved Son.
                        Isaac Watts, 1719.

Psalm 103 (Version 3) <8.7.4.>
1 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
   To his feet thy tribute bring!
   Ransom’d, heal’d, restored, forgiven,
   Who like me his praise should sing!
      Praise him! praise him,
      Praise him! praise him,
   Praise the everlasting King!
2 Praise him for his grace and favour
   To our fathers in distress!
   Praise him still the same as ever,
   Slow to chide and swift to bless!
      Praise him! praise him,
      Praise him! praise him
   Glorious in his faithfulness!
3 Father-like he tends and spares us,
   Well our feeble frame he knows;
   In his hands he gently bears us,
   Rescues us from all our foes.
      Praise him! praise him,
      Praise him! praise him,
   Widely as his mercy flows.
4 Frail as summer’s flower we flourish;
   Blows the wind, and it is gone;
   But while mortals rise and perish,
   God endures unchanging on.
      Praise him! praise him,
      Praise him! praise him,
   Praise the High Eternal One.
5 Angels, help us to adore him;
   Ye behold him face to face;
   Sun and moon bow down before him,
   Dwellers all in time and space.
      Praise him! praise him,
      Praise him! praise him,
   Praise with us the God of grace!
                     Henry Francis Lyte, 1834.

Spirit of the Psalms
Psalm 116 (Song 1)
1 I Love the Lord: he heard my cries,
   And pitied every groan:
   Long as I live, when troubles rise,
   I’ll hasten to his throne.
2 I love the Lord: be bow’d his ear,
   And chased by griefs away;
   Oh let my heart no more despair,
   While I have breath to pray!
3 My flesh declined, my spirits fell,
   And I drew near the dead;
   While inward pangs, and fears of hell,
   Perplex’d my wakeful head.
4 “My God,” I cried, “Thy servant save
   Thou ever good and just;
   Thy power can rescue from the grave,
   Thy power is all my trust.”
5 The Lord beheld me sore distress’d,
   He bid my pains remove:
   Return, my soul, to God thy rest,
   For thou hast known his love.
6 My God hath saved my soul from death,
   And dried my falling tears;
   Now to his praise I’ll spend my breath,
   And my remaining years.
                        Isaac Watts, 1719.

Psalm 116 (Song 2)
1 What shall I render to my God,
   For all his kindness shown?
   My feet shall visit thine abode,
   My songs address thy throne.
2 Among the saints that fill thine house,
   My offerings shall be paid:
   There shall my zeal perform the vows
   My soul in anguish made.
3 How much is mercy thy delight,
   Thou ever blessed God!
   How dear thy servants in thy sight!
   How precious is their blood!
4 How happy all thy servants are!
   How great thy grace to me!
   My life, which thou hast made thy care,
   Lord, I devote to thee.
5 Now I am thine, for ever thine,
   Nor shall my purpose move!
   Thy hand hath loosed my bands of pain,
   And bound me with thy love.
6 Here in thy courts I leave my vow,
   And thy rich grace record:
   Witness, ye saints, who hear me now,
   If I forsake the Lord.
                           Isaac Watts, 1719.

Psalm 116 (Song 3)
1 Redeem’d from guilt, redeem’d from fears,
   My soul enlarged, and dried my tears,
   What can I do, oh love divine,
   What, to repay such gifts as thine?
2 What can I do, so poor, so weak,
   But from thy hands new blessings seek?
   A heart to feel my mercies more,
   A soul to know thee and adore.
3 Oh! teach me at thy feet to fall,
   And yield thee up myself, my all;
   Before thy saints my debt to own,
   And live and die to thee alone!
4 Thy Spirit, Lord, at large impart!
   Expand, and raise, and fill my heart;
   So may I hope my life shall be
   Some faint return, oh Lord, to thee.
                  Henry Francis Lyte, 1834.

Spirit of the Psalms
Psalm 116 (Song 1)
1 I Love the Lord: he heard my cries,
   And pitied every groan:
   Long as I live, when troubles rise,
   I’ll hasten to his throne.
2 I love the Lord: be bow’d his ear,
   And chased by griefs away;
   Oh let my heart no more despair,
   While I have breath to pray!
3 My flesh declined, my spirits fell,
   And I drew near the dead;
   While inward pangs, and fears of hell,
   Perplex’d my wakeful head.
4 “My God,” I cried, “Thy servant save
   Thou ever good and just;
   Thy power can rescue from the grave,
   Thy power is all my trust.”
5 The Lord beheld me sore distress’d,
   He bid my pains remove:
   Return, my soul, to God thy rest,
   For thou hast known his love.
6 My God hath saved my soul from death,
   And dried my falling tears;
   Now to his praise I’ll spend my breath,
   And my remaining years.
                        Isaac Watts, 1719.

Psalm 116 (Song 2)
1 What shall I render to my God,
   For all his kindness shown?
   My feet shall visit thine abode,
   My songs address thy throne.
2 Among the saints that fill thine house,
   My offerings shall be paid:
   There shall my zeal perform the vows
   My soul in anguish made.
3 How much is mercy thy delight,
   Thou ever blessed God!
   How dear thy servants in thy sight!
   How precious is their blood!
4 How happy all thy servants are!
   How great thy grace to me!
   My life, which thou hast made thy care,
   Lord, I devote to thee.
5 Now I am thine, for ever thine,
   Nor shall my purpose move!
   Thy hand hath loosed my bands of pain,
   And bound me with thy love.
6 Here in thy courts I leave my vow,
   And thy rich grace record:
   Witness, ye saints, who hear me now,
   If I forsake the Lord.
                           Isaac Watts, 1719.

Psalm 116 (Song 3)
1 Redeem’d from guilt, redeem’d from fears,
   My soul enlarged, and dried my tears,
   What can I do, oh love divine,
   What, to repay such gifts as thine?
2 What can I do, so poor, so weak,
   But from thy hands new blessings seek?
   A heart to feel my mercies more,
   A soul to know thee and adore.
3 Oh! teach me at thy feet to fall,
   And yield thee up myself, my all;
   Before thy saints my debt to own,
   And live and die to thee alone!
4 Thy Spirit, Lord, at large impart!
   Expand, and raise, and fill my heart;
   So may I hope my life shall be
   Some faint return, oh Lord, to thee.
                  Henry Francis Lyte, 1834.