Wednesday, August 29, 2018

When The LORD Moves


Mark 16:4  And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

Mark 16:5  And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

When the Lord moves for His own Son's sake, and has those interests governing...
 

And when those interests have brought us into such a relationship with Him that we can say there is no stone so big to be removed...

No problem so great for solving...

No difficulty so intense, but the Lord will do what is necessary for His Son's sake...

When we have come to a position like that, the Lord is free to do a lot of things very quietly.

As we say, they just "happen".

Ah, but they have been the objects of the exercise of exceeding great power – "There was a great earthquake" (Matt. 28:2).

But here, in this aspect of the situation, it does not seem to be an earthquake at all.

It has just happened.

We must recognize that there is an aspect of activities in which the secret, quiet working of His immense power dismisses the greatest difficulties as though they had never existed. 

Sometimes He may bring us into the presence of the working of His power that is manifestly terrific, but not often and certainly not always. 

For faith it is more like this:

There is such power at work as to make possible the setting aside of the obstacle very quietly...

So that we afterward wonder – "And they were amazed."

And the angel said, "Be not amazed."

It is good to have amazement...

But let us recognize that a certain amount of our amazement is because we have not sufficient faith.

~T. Austin Sparks~

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Before And During The Call

Quick work this! 

The LORD hears us before we call and often answers us in the same speedy manner. 

Foreseeing our needs and our prayers, He so arranges providence that before the need actually arises He has supplied it, before the trial assails us He has armed us against it. 

This is the promptitude of omniscience, and we have often seen it exercised. 

Before we dreamed of the affliction which was coming, the strong consolation which was to sustain us under it had arrived. 

What a prayer-answering God we have! 

The second clause suggests the telephone. 

Though God be in heaven and we upon earth, yet He makes our word, like His own word, to travel very swiftly...

When we pray aright we speak into the ear of God. 

Our gracious Mediator presents our petitions at once, and the great Father hears them and smiles upon them. 

Grand praying this! 

Who would not be much in prayer when he knows that he has the ear of the King of kings? 

This day I will pray in faith, not only believing that I shall be heard, but that I am heard...

Not only that I shall be answered, but that I have the answer already. 

Holy Spirit, help me in this!

~Charles Spurgeon~