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Charles Spurgeon

Holy Longings

Psalm 42:1-2; Psalm 73:25-26
Charles Spurgeon April, 27 2026 Audio
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In the sermon "Holy Longings," C. H. Spurgeon addresses the deep desire of the believer for communion with God, highlighting the theme of spiritual thirst as articulated in Psalm 42:1-2 and Psalm 73:25-26. Spurgeon argues that just as a deer longs for water, the believer's soul yearns for the presence of God, which is critical for spiritual vitality and growth. He emphasizes the emptiness of earthly pursuits compared to the fulfillment found in a relationship with God, citing these scriptures to illustrate the soul’s ultimate satisfaction in Christ alone. This longing is both a gift and a responsibility; it fosters spiritual awakening and encourages Christians to pursue deeper intimacy with God, thus underscoring the significance of personal devotion and communal worship in the Reformed tradition.

Key Quotes

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.”

“The appetite of the soul for God is its truest and noblest longing.”

“There is nothing on earth that can satisfy the longing of the heart but God.”

“When we feel the absence of God, we experience a thirst that nothing else can quench.”

What does the Bible say about holy longings?

Holy longings reveal the condition of the heart and signify a deep desire for God Himself.

The Bible illustrates that holy longings are a clear indicator of the soul's state, as expressed in Psalm 42:1-2, where the psalmist compares his longing for God to a deer's thirst for water. This profound craving signifies a regenerate heart that yearns not just for blessings or relief but for God Himself. Such longings are signs of true spiritual life and evidence of regeneration, as the Holy Spirit creates in believers a heart that genuinely desires communion with God.

Psalm 42:1-2, Psalm 73:25-26

How do we know regeneration is true?

Regeneration is evidenced by deep, holy longings and desires for Jesus above all else.

Regeneration is confirmed through the presence of deep and sincere longings for Jesus, which the believer experiences after being transformed by grace. This transformation involves the Spirit removing a heart of stone and replacing it with a heart of flesh, sparking desires that deeply yearn for God (Ezekiel 36:26). When stripped of earthly comforts, a true believer's heart still cries out for Jesus, showcasing an authentic relationship rather than a superficial adherence to religion. Such longings indicate that a person has been truly changed by the Holy Spirit and is authentically seeking fellowship with God.

Ezekiel 36:26, Psalm 42:1-2, Psalm 73:25-26

Why is longing for heaven important for Christians?

Longing for heaven reflects a believer's true citizenship and deep desire for God's presence.

The longing for heaven is a vital aspect of the Christian's identity, as believers recognize themselves as strangers and pilgrims in this world (Hebrews 11:13-16). This desire signifies that their ultimate hope is not found in earthly existence but in the presence of Jesus in eternity. The Christian's yearning for heaven transcends mere fear of hell; it embodies an affectionate desire to be with Christ, who is the source of joy and fulfillment in eternal life. The intensity of this longing reflects true allegiance to the kingdom of God and an understanding that this world is not their final home.

Hebrews 11:13-16, Psalm 16:11

What does it mean to pant for God?

Panting for God signifies a deep spiritual thirst and hunger for His presence and communion.

To pant for God is to express an intense spiritual desire and longing for intimate fellowship with Him. This imagery conveys a desperate need akin to a thirsty deer searching for water, illustrating the believer's craving for spiritual sustenance found solely in God (Psalm 42:1-2). Such yearning indicates that a believer's heart has been transformed by regeneration, creating an insatiable thirst for the living God. This longing often intensifies during times of struggle, reminding believers that their ultimate satisfaction lies not in earthly pleasures but in God's eternal presence.

Psalm 42:1-2

Sermon Transcript

Auto-generated transcript • May contain errors

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Holy Longings Charles Spurgeon There is no truer test of the state of the soul than its deepest longings and desires. Outward conduct may be restrained by fear, reputation, or habit, but longing, true, inward, unforced longing, reveals the condition of the heart. As a person longs in secret, so they truly are.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God's presence? This is not casual interest. It is desperation. The deer in a drought-stricken wilderness will not be distracted by secondary things. It must have water or it will die.

In the same way, the regenerate soul longs for Jesus, not merely for blessings, not merely for relief, but for God Himself. Longing for Jesus. Conversion is not the addition of religion to a busy life. It is the creation of new desires. The Spirit removes the heart of stone and gives a heart of flesh. Wherever there is saving grace, holy longings are born. O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water. Notice the intensity.

Saving faith is not a cold mental ascent to doctrine. Though doctrine is essential, it is a living hunger for the living Jesus. The believer says, Whom have I in heaven but You? and on earth I desire no one besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. This is the language of supreme affection. On earth I desire no one besides you. Jesus is treasured above all competitors.

When flesh fails, when earthly joys fade, when strength diminishes, then God remains as the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Examine yourself here. What do you most deeply desire? Wealth, fame, lust, or Jesus? One of the surest evidences of regeneration is this. When stripped of everything else, the soul still says, give me Jesus.

Longing for heaven. The Christian is, in a profound sense, a stranger here in this wilderness world. He is a citizen of heaven, living temporarily on earth. This poor world cannot satisfy the renewed heart. Arise and depart, for this is not your rest, because it is polluted.

Thus believers groan for glory. They do not merely fear hell. They long for heaven. They yearn to see the face of the One they now know by faith. Heaven is precious, not because of golden streets, but because Jesus is there. When the heart whispers, Come, Lord Jesus, it reveals allegiance to another kingdom. Whenever saving grace comes, it creates heavenly longings, desires which the world cannot understand. The saints crave heaven and thirst for the presence of God.

Such longing marks them as strangers and pilgrims in this present world. You have made known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. The righteous long for holy living because God himself authors those desires. What He intends to give, He first teaches us to crave. Spiritual desires are the buds of coming fruit.

Do you long to conquer sin? That longing is evidence of spiritual life. Do you grieve your remaining corruption? That grief signals regeneration. May your soul pant for Him. May your heart cry. Whom have I in heaven but you? May your deepest desire be Jesus now, heaven soon, and holiness always. The unconverted regret the consequences of sin, but they do not hate sin itself. The believer sighs to be free from sin altogether. What the wicked man dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
Charles Spurgeon
About Charles Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (19 June 1834 — 31 January 1892) was an English Particular Baptist preacher. His nickname is the "Prince of Preachers."
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