It’s impossible to clap your hands when they’re tied. They need to be loosed, and so do you.
Acts 4:31 – And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
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Shaking is not always the result of prayer. The affects of prayer can be many and varied. The product of real prayer, faith prayer, may be quiet and peace over turmoil, or revival and rejoicing over grieving. It could be slowing down from moving too rapidly, or a speeding up to prevent delay. Perhaps a rising up is in order from being down-trodden, or even a putting down when evil has arisen. But in our Text for Today, we see a shaking that stirs to break free from the lethargy of religion and binds.
In our present age, it is so sad to see multitudes of churches that are merely existing in the lethargy of religion and tradition, being so bound that in them the Word of God is made of none effect. My dear friend, if the church ever needed it, it is now that the church needs a strong and clear shaking that causes the kind of eternal change that causes heaven to rejoice. When the apostles were released after their brief detainment, along with commands and threats to remain silent, they realized they had a window of time, and something needed to be done.
They came together with their fellow believers and shared all that had transpired. Then they prayed; they prayed the Word, telling Father what they perceived they needed, that He would bring about signs, wonders, and healings in order to inspire boldness. God honored their prayers according to His Word. He had already declared that signs and wonders and healings would follow the proclaiming of His Word as confirmations. What was truly needful was the bold proclamation of the Word of God. It was through boldness in great faith that the lame man was healed at the Beautiful gate. It was that kind of boldness that was needed, not just in Peter and John, but in all the apostles, and in all the church, too. That was the true focus of their prayer, and God answered.
When they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. God is still a Shaker. When it was shaken, they were all filled with Holy Ghost. Jesus is still filling His people with Holy Ghost. And when the place was shaken, and they were all filled with Holy Ghost, they spoke the Word of God with boldness. Holy Spirit is still a great source of boldness that is absolutely needful for Father-pleasing ministry. We are in a time for such praying. Recognize the commands and threats against the church. Communicate them. Pray in unity. Expect a shaking from our God who never changes. Get ready for a new infusion of boldness the will break people loose.
Manna for Today – Acts 4:23-31; Acts 2:1-4; Isaiah 66:1; Acts 16:25-26; Mark 7:1-13
My Second Miler by Dr. Beechard Moorefield 