HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

“And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.” Acts 20:36

On the shore at Miletus, Paul kneeled down and prayed with the elders of the Ephesian Church. God answered his prayer exceeding abundantly.

Church history tells us that John spent the closing years of his life in Ephesus. When the grievous wolves entered in among the flock — Arians, who would have robbed the Lord of His divine glories and supernatural crown; Ebionites, who extolled the life of asceticism and renunciation; Gnostics, who mingled the simplicity of the gospel with wild fables of their own — he, the Apostle of Love and the Apostle of Fire, was there, to deliver the sheep from their fangs. The prayer on the beach was not in vain. It had an overbrimming and munificent response.

So let me learn that it is no profitless thing for me to cry unto the God of my life. For myself, for others, for the world, for the Church, threatened by crafty and deadly foes, let me lift up holy hands without anger or doubt. There is One who hears and who will make a reply. Not one petition escapes His ear, eludes His memory, or is too high for His omnipotent grace.

And let me rest assured that there will be no cessation in the onward progress of Christ’s kingdom. If Paul goes — John will come in his place. The Master, who is with us all the days, watches over the welfare of His little flock. He will guard it against the hazard of the night and the pitilessness of the storm. No ravenous beast will break in upon the security and sanctity of the fold. No frail and trembling lamb will be missing when the evening brings all home!