House Shakers

House Shakers

Acts 4:23-37 “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.  When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.  You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.  They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.  Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

When the believers spoke this prayer, the Holy Spirit came upon them in power. He performed many signs and wonders and the house where they were meeting was physically shaken. This happened in the Hebridean Revival of 1949-51. I expect it has happened elsewhere too. Why does it not happen today I wonder? Dare we pray it once more – knowing what happened before? Do we have the faith for it, or the determination to bring Glory to God at any cost?

This is a prayer we could use today – paraphrased, it would read like this – “Sovereign Lord, you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.  You spoke to us by the Holy Spirit. Yet those in power band together against the Lord and against his anointed ones. Indeed our rulers and government meet together with the enemies if your church in this city to conspire against all Christians.  They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  Now, Lord, consider their threats and unjust laws and enable us to speak your word with great boldness.  Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Do we believe enough or have we faith enough to become what I can only call “Latter Rain House Shakers” ?? Do we have the fortitude of our fore-bears to withstand the trials and persecution of modern society? Can we lay hands on hearts and ask God to do again what He has done before? Can we, will we pay the price – perhaps the ultimate price for God’s Kingdom?

We are all going to face this question one day, possibly quite soon. But if prophecy is to be fulfilled, then it must happen. It is coming to the time for Christians to draw a line in the sand.

Will you? Won’t you? Where will you stand?