LET THE KING HEAR US WHEN WE CALL
"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled." -Acts 4:31 [KJV]
Think, my soul, what a blessed testimony this must have been, in confirmation to the disciples, that their God was a prayer-hearing, and a prayer-answering God! And what a full reply to all they had been praying for! The enemies of God, and of His Christ, had threatened the poor disciples what they would do to them, if they persisted in preaching Jesus to the people. The purport, therefore, of the apostles prayer was, not that the Lord would stop their malice, and silence all their opposition: this they sought not to avoid. But the single prayer was, that their souls might be animated to go on, let the malice of their foes manifest itself as it might. In answer, "the place was shaken." As if the Lord had said, "He that shakes the place, can make your enemies hearts tremble." And so it proved.
Now,
my soul, take thine improvement from it. Jesus sees all, knows all,
hears all, as well of thine exercises, as of thine enemies attempts upon
thee. Carry all complaints therefore to Him. Depend upon it, that it is
blessed to be exercised; blessed for thee, that the enemies of God; and
of His Christ, threaten thee; blessed to be opposed, that thou mayest
not recline upon thine arms, or, like stagnant waters, become corrupt
for want of running. The hatred of the foes of Jesus affords occasion
yet more for Jesus to manifest His love; and though the place be not
shaken whence thy cries go up, the word of His grace gives the same sure
answer. Jesus looks on, Jesus upholds, Jesus supports. Do thou call
every Bethel place as Abraham's handmaid did: "Thou, Lord, seest me." No
weapon formed against God's people can prosper; and every tongue that
riseth against them in judgment, the Lord will condemn. "This is the
heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me,
saith the LORD." -Isaiah 54:17
-preacher Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.)
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