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great test at the present moment, and the Lord’s supper is one

expression of our loyalty to Christ. That is why in the preaching

we rightly call for evidence of committal to the Lord in the

breaking of bread. It is an expression of loyalty to our true

David in the time when Absalom is usurping His rights. This

maid protected these two priestly sons, as if God observed

that without that element what was pleasing to Himself would

not be maintained. This maid was used; she went and told

them; she knew where they were; she would not have seen

them in the city, and through her wisdom they were preserved.

We know what is often said about this passage, as to God’s

secret service operating in a day of apostasy. Such an

expression might be difficult for young people, but the

impression I would seek to leave is that in a critical time you

can have the mind of heaven and you can be instrumental in

preserving those who would be loyal to Christ.

In the Acts of the Apostles we find this young sister Rhoda,

one of the delightful illustrations we have. She was at the

prayer meeting, a fine place for the maids to be. Of course, the

brothers should not weary them with long prayers. I do not

think that these prayers in this house here would be long. They

would cry to God to deliver Peter. Beloved brethren, if Peter

had not been liberated. What a loss to the church! You say I

am speaking in enigmas, but what I want to emphasize is that

there is a great need at the present time for the assertion of

kingdom principles. In the assertion of kingdom principles we

own that we are under authority to Christ. But Peter was

liberated through prayer. They had been praying and, like

ourselves often, they had not the faith that they would be

answered. It is a great matter to pray in faith, beloved

brethren, and the more we pray in

faith the shorter, the more pungent, our prayers would be.

Peter was liberated and he