Acts 8:30

“Understandest thou what thou readest?”
— Acts 8:30

We should be abler teachers of others, and less liable to be carried
about by every wind of doctrine, if we sought to have a more
intelligent understanding of the Word of God. As the Holy Ghost, the
Author of the Scriptures is he who alone can enlighten us rightly to
understand them, we should constantly ask his teaching, and his
guidance into all truth. When the prophet Daniel would interpret
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, what did he do? He set himself to earnest
prayer that God would open up the vision. The apostle John, in his
vision at Patmos, saw a book sealed with seven seals which none was
found worthy to open, or so much as to look upon. The book was
afterwards opened by the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who had prevailed
to open it; but it is written first-“I wept much.” The tears of John,
which were his liquid prayers, were, so far as he was concerned, the
sacred keys by which the folded book was opened. Therefore, if, for
your own and others’ profiting, you desire to be “filled with the
knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,”
remember that prayer is your best means of study: like Daniel, you
shall understand the dream, and the interpretation thereof, when you
have sought unto God; and like John you shall see the seven seals of
precious truth unloosed, after you have wept much. Stones are not
broken, except by an earnest use of the hammer; and the stone-breaker
must go down on his knees. Use the hammer of diligence, and let the
knee of prayer be exercised, and there is not a stony doctrine in
revelation which is useful for you to understand, which will not fly
into shivers under the exercise of prayer and faith. You may force your
way through anything with the leverage of prayer. Thoughts and
reasonings are like the steel wedges which give a hold upon truth; but
prayer is the lever, the prise which forces open the iron chest of
sacred mystery, that we may get the treasure hidden within.

On this day…

• The Vastness of His Resources – 2025
• Standing Out Among Men – 2025
• Psalm 28 – 2024
• Psalm 27 – 2024
• March 23, 2014 – 2014
• The Things That Matter – 2009
• LEAVE ROOM FOR GOD – 2009
• Jeremiah 31:33 – 2008
• 2 Timothy 4:8 – 2008
• Return To Sender – 2007