Many years ago I was with a group of Pastors that visited the underground church in China. In one particular place, we met with an elderly lady leading a church of tens of thousands. They often had no place to meet, faced threats and imprisonments. Yet in the midst of trouble she told of stories of salvation, healing and raising of the dead!
In Acts 8 we read that there was great persecution and the church was scattered yet….
And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city. Acts 8:6-8
I am believing that the church will see unexpected growth and a release of the miraculous. Why don’t you join me in praying for this?
So to our continuation of the life of David. We are still in 1 Samuel 19.
Saul heard that David has gone to stay with the prophet Samuel (vs19) and he sends his soldiers to either capture or kill David. Then something wild happens.
Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 1 Samuel 19:20
I have to admit to laughing out loud as we see these battle-hardened soldiers, probably from the kings own guard, overwhelmed by the Spirit of God and prophesying. Yep, God can do this, he can make an ass speak too! (Numbers 22). What happens to the soldiers makes it impossible for them to arrest David. So funny.
Three times the soldiers try and go back and arrest David, three times these ‘hard cases’ end up full of the Spirit and prophesying.
In the end Saul gets so fed up and angry, he does that thing where you say, ‘if you can’t do the job properly then I will do it myself.’ Guess what?
And he went there to Naioth in Ra-mah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 1 Samuel 19:23-24
This is both hilarious and serious. Expect God to do some extraordinary things in our times of trouble. Expect God to do miracles in our times of trouble. I was reading through Acts and this prayer came with fresh insight.
“…And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:29-31
How about we stand up, find a private place and cry out to God the prayer found in verses 29 and 30?
This is no coincidence. I listened to a story about a preacher in Africa yesterday. ‘Twas told by a British minister who had asked him (the preacher) a question or who was there when the question was being asked.
And this was the question, “how do you grow your congregation?” The preacher answered by saying (paraphrased), “I don’t really do much. Once I get to a village, I simply ask to meet with all the sick people and I pray for them. God heals them and that’s how the congregation grows.”
The narrator went on to say if Philip was the only one emphatically titled or referred to as an evangelist in the Bible, then his life and approach (as recorded in Acts 8) ought to at least provide us a template on how evangelism is to be done.
Yes, I also believe that God will move in our midst unprecedentedly and He is able to use anyone and/or anything for His intents and purposes.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Again, I am much encouraged..