Duncan Campbell, the famous evangelist God used mightily in the Hebrides revival, went to visit a young teenage boy named Donald. Campbell found the lad in the barn on his knees with an open Bible before Him. His response to Campbell shows a level of mature communion with God rare for someone so young. Donald responded, "Excuse me a little, Mr. Campbell, I am having an audience with the King." He made the evangelist wait while he continued his time with the King of Kings. How many would have forsaken prayer for the purpose of meeting with a flesh and blood person.
Duncan Campbell was a famously important man at that time. Everybody around the islands knew his name and the wonderful exploits God did through him. Young Donald had been wonderfully converted as part of those revivals. That young man had an unusual prayer life, especially for someone only fifteen years old. Keeping audience with His King was more preferrable than a face-to-face meeting with a man. Even a famous servant of God.
Donald had a far more important meeting to keep than meeting with the famed evangelist. Donald drew near to God daily. He communed at a level foreign to most. God used this young man who devoted himself to prayer and having audience with his King. One night during a service it is reported that Donald stood up, clapped his hands together and said one word, "Father." People melted into tears as the presence of God invaded the place where they gathered.
Another time after a rather dull service and the crowds dismissed without any great move of God, Donald remained behind praying. The pastor and Campbell were about to leave when Donald urgently called them saying, "The Spirit is brooding over us and about to breakthrough." The older men joined Donald in prayer. They were interrupted later with a knock on the door. The congregation who had gone home all came back hours later from all over the village to worship. God broke through in that service wonderfully even at the lateness of the hour.
Luke 18:1-8 (NASB)
1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they
ought to pray and not to lose heart,
2
saying, "In a certain city there was a
judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
3 "There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to
him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.'
4 "For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to
himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,
5 yet because this widow
bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming
she will wear me out.'"
6 And
the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge
*said;
7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to
Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?
8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them
quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the
earth?"
How easy it is to lose heart when the prayers are not answered as quickly as we had hoped nor in the manner we expected. Our challenge is to keep praying at all times. Not to lose heart. You could also say not to lose courage and faith.
Think of young Donald telling two seasoned servants of God to pray with him for the Spirit of God was about to break through. The older men had already given up for the night. Donald sat in tune with the Spirit of God at a different level than the two of them. He persevered in prayer without losing heart.
The Holy Spirit is brooding all around us. Ready to sweep in saving the lost, convicting the saved to repent, and revive His churches. Are we having audience with the King so as to be aware of these things? Do we sense the brooding of the Spirit of God in our lives and families? Hunker down with Him. Days of refreshing may be closer than we think. Now is the time to persevere in prayer.
- Describe what you think keeping audience with the King means.
- Have you ever had such an experience with King Jesus?
- Do you prefer to keep company with God than the company of other people?
- Do you think the Spirit of God is brooding over your life, church, and community ready to break through? If so, what do you think holds Him back?
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