The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-04-19
EPWORTH LEAGUE
Mag L: answered Prayers" - Acta
Nv, 23-3I-Peter's Case.

May L: "Answered Prayers" So Acta
Nv, 23-3I-Peter's Case.
When men pray, listen and hear
what they pray for, and you will then
know what manner of folks they are.
Consider carefully what Iou most pray
for in your heart, and you may be
wiser as to the kind of person you are.
Hark to the praying of the early
Christians, to the real Christians now,
and you will discover how to obtain
the best treasures.
The times were perilous for the dis
ciples of Jesus in Jerusalem. Peter
and John had seen lame beggar on
the temple steps as they were going up
to afternoon worship. In the name
and by the power of Jesus they had
cured him. This made a great stir, the.
more so because the beggar seemed so
earnest and sincere in his attachment
to the new faith. This drew the anger
of the temple rulers, who imprisoned
the two apostles and then with threats
of punishment prohibited their preach
ing. After telling the story of their
experiences to the assembled congre-
cation of Christians all joined in an
out3urSt of song and prayer. ThlS
prayer gives insight into their inmost
life. After giving praise to God as
Lord over all they recognize in their
sufferingS and those of Jesus the full
fllment of prophecy as given in the
Second Psalm. They call on God to
take notice of the threats of the rulers.
They do not pray for deliverance from
suffering nor for favor with the peo-
pie, but they ask for boldness in speak
ing Gods word and that signs and
wonders may be done by Jesus name.
The answer came. They prayed.
The place was shaken. But that sign
was not of utmost Importance, though
wonderful. What was of great mo-
ment to them and to us was the fact
that they did speak the word with
holiness. Such man as Peter, who
could promise his Lord to stand by
him even to death and then, when a
servant girl spoke to him, be so afraid
as to deny all acquaintance with the
Master, such a man needed to pray
just this prayer for holiness. Stabil-
ity was the very quality he seemed
most to lack. 1t was virtue most es-
sential to the establishment of the
church The wonderful doings and
teachings of Jesus were of great inn
portance and needed to be declared.
But all these would have been compar-
atively valueless if death on the cross
had closed the work When resurrec-
ton on the third day was an assured
fact it's Importance eclipsed all other
signs and wonders. 1t gave new
meaning to the life of Jesus and to all
human life. 1t was a new birth of
hope-the regeneration of the world.
To accomplish the purposes of God for
mankind this fact of resurrection of
Jesus and promise of eternal life for
every man who would accept Him as
Lord must be proclaimed to all men.
To declare the fact would be to accuse
their rulers of the foulest judicial MUIR
der ever committed It would endan-
ger the lives of whoever should dare
utter such a charge. All the power Of
the constituted government might be
expected to be used to crush the
preachers. On this slender thread hung
the destinies of mankind, the hope of
all ages. Could such men as these be
made bold? One had betrayed and
another denied Him in life!
The prayer was answered. Boldness
was given. and the greatest sign of
God was granted. They used all their
means for the good of all.