In "Will the Will of God," Charles G. Finney and Charles H. Spurgeon explain the meaning of the Lord's Prayer when we pray, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Students and teachers of the Bible along with students of great preaching will gain much from these two masters of the pulpit and Bible interpretation. A companion to "The Rich Man and Lazarus" and "The Sower and the Seed" by Finney and Spurgeon.
"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
In 2014, Agion Press began the publication of a series of short books of two sermons each by these two great preachers on the same scripture text. The first book in the series is The Rich Man and Lazarus and the second book in the series is The Sower and the Seed. In The Sower and the Seed you will notice the emphasis that Charles Finney placed on the importance and value of the Seed, the Word of God; whereas, Spurgeon expounded the effect of the Seed in people’s lives. When the Word of God dwells in good hearts, believers will the will of God in everything. The third book in the series, Will the Will of God, teaches the relationship between sincere prayer and doing the will of God when you pray that the will of God be done. In Finney’s sermon, you will see something of the depth and extent of theological discussion by those in the pews in the churches in Finney’s day regarding the ability of the will to make contrary choices, the definition of sin, that all should obey the law of God, and how to truly pray, “Thy will be done.” Finney never taught that anyone can save themselves by obeying the law of God; rather, he taught that because we have not obeyed God and will not obey the law of God apart from faith in Jesus Christ that we need Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and by His grace bestow eternal life to us and the Holy Spirit upon us. Charles Spurgeon preached his sermon on this text about forty years later, so we can learn something about the different theological concerns forty years later in England from those in America forty years before. From different beginnings, both agree in their actual application of Jesus’ teaching on prayer and the state of mind and heart of one who would pray as Jesus taught. Both sermons in each book complement one another for a more complete picture of the teachings of Jesus. Students of the Bible and students of great preaching both will gain much from these masters of the pulpit and Bible interpretation. The two Bible Lessons below by Charles Finney and Charles Spurgeon have been lightly edited and put in the same format to help the modern reader, the Bible teacher and student.
Biographical Sketch of Charles Grandison Finney and Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Charles Grandison Finney [1792-1875] has been considered America’s Greatest Revivalist. He also served as theological professor and president of Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, which he helped found in 1833. In 1980, I began publishing the works of Charles Finney, beginning with Principles of Prayer, through Bethany House Publishers. More recently I have published Finney’s works through Agion Press, beginning with Principles of Righteousness, a study of the Book of Romans..
Charles Haddon Spurgeon [1834-1892] has been considered the Prince of Preachers. He founded Spurgeon’s College in 1856 in London, England, which was named after him following his death. In 1988, I published The Believer’s Secret on Intercession, a devotional from the writings of Andrew Murray and C.H. Spurgeon, through Bethany House Publishers.