Shaken and Filled

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

SHAKEN AND FILLED

Acts 4:31

31 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.

NIV

Wouldn't it be great if after we prayed the place we were praying would be shaken and we would all be filled the Holy Spirit and spoke of God boldly? So why isn't the place we pray shaken? Why did God decide to shake that place and not the one in which we are praying? Perhaps he would if we prayed like they did. We believe we are filled with the Holy Spirit, but do we speak the word of God boldly? Maybe if we prayed with the earnestness of heart as those disciples did, we would experience what they did. Although there have been times when this believer felt the miraculous within, having the building shake is still to be experienced. What keeps us from that kind of experience? Did those disciples have more faith then we do? God said he gave to every man a measure of faith, so either we believe or we don’t believe. How can one believe more then another? If we believe then we believe, but if we have doubt, then maybe we do not actually believe. It is for certain those who were with Peter and John in that house all believed so deeply that God made the building shake, as if to say, “Amen” to their prayer. Then if that was not enough of an answer he filled them all with the Spirit, which must have been similar to that day of Pentecost. They were so filled they spoke the word of God boldly. Perhaps that was also like the day of Pentecost, and they were all speaking in other tongues, although it does not clearly say that. But what was for certain that God answered their pray and he answered in the immediate. One thing we can learn is that we do need to seek God frequently, as like daily. Although they certainly were there on that day of Pentecost and were filled with the Spirit then, they needed to stay in communication with God, and have more of him, more of the Spirit. Our actions, our deeds, our words could be empty if we express them with human power, but if we are in contact with God, in prayer, in earnest prayer, prayer that is in line with the will of God, so we can be effective ambassadors of his to the world, that he will be glorified, maybe we might just feel the ground shake beneath our feet, and experience again and again the power of the Spirit in our lives. Lord, stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus! Let us be shaken and filled.