Scripture passage: Acts 4:23-31Untitled Sermon (2)

Scripture passage: Acts 4:23-31

Sermon title: A Powerful Prayer for ordinary people like us.

Sermon Theme: The Importance of Prayer.

Sermon Thesis/ Core truth: All Prayers are relevant in the life of Christians. ******************************************************************************* Introduction:

We find ourselves in a time where many people want a "quick" fix. It is so easy to get impatient, and that's when people get discouraged and give up. The problem, however, in many of these cases, is that people are trying to get answers in incorrect places. It is much easier to ask “Google” or “Facebook”. Yes, even Christians are guilty of this. We also get impatient when certain things don't want to fall into place soon enough. When I look around me, I can't help but to wonder about the prayer life of so-called Christians. Why do I say this? If we look at how people around us, how they react to different situations or challenges, then I can’t help to wonder if people still pray? And if we do spend time in prayer, do we believe those prayers? Are we spending enough time in prayer in our busy lives? Let me take it a step further, Is there still time for God in your life? You see beloved, these are very important questions, that only you can answer, honestly. Because, If we confess that we are in an intimate, lively relationship with God, communion with God, means that we come to share in His values and this will therefore be our first priority. Now there is various ways to be in communion with God, but surely the two most important ways, is to spent time in God's Word and spent quality time in Prayer. And that's where I want to pause this morning, namely Prayer.

I referred to a few questions earlier about your prayer life, and if your answer to these were “YES", the next question, which is probably a bit more challenging to answer, would be if you really believe that your prayer would be heard and answered? Do you believe that the prayer you prayed will bear fruit in your life? You see, beloved, to approach God in prayer is a special honor, but more than that, it is also a special responsibility. Prayer is surely the most important use in any Christian's life and therefore it should be the priority to enjoy in your life. Why is this? Because Prayer is a communication session with God, which is an act of worship, in which we communicate with God the Father. Prayer is not just a "one-way" conversation with God. God listens to your prayers and answers them through His Word, in His own time. We cannot just spend time in prayer, and neglect to spent time in His Word. From this we see that the two actions are not separate from each other! Prayer is a biblical command to us, which was instructed by Jesus Christ Himself. The wonderful news is, that God longs for these regular communication sessions. And these need to happen all the time, in the good times, as well as in difficult and challenging times. We as humans are too prone ourselves to repeat our prayers, in order to get our life back on track, especially when we experience difficult times. It is a shame to see that when the times are good and everything in our lives is going to plan, the first thing we neglect, is time spent in prayer. God has established prayer as the means by which we receive His supernatural help, and without His supernatural help we cannot live a live a life worthy of the gospel. Everything that distinguishes Christians from the world, in a God-centered way is a work of God's supernatural grace to His children. God determined that this grace should flow to us through prayer. That is why prayer must be central in our lives, families and even ministries. In our text this morning, which is a great prayer, there are four truths on why prayer is relevant in our current lives as true Christians.

1. First, prayer is relevant because we must pray without cease.

I also going to refer us to the letter of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18. Paul teaches us in 1 Thessalonians 5:15–18 that we must pray without ceasing. To pray is a vital part of our daily lives, which cannot be avoided or even ignored. Paul states the following in this passage; “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. Here we see vital and important meanings around the fact that we must pray without cease. First, it means we must depend on the Holy Spirit in everything we do. This is precisely the spirit and essence of prayer, namely, “dependence”. Even, when we do not consciously talk to God, there is still a deep and abiding dependence on Him, who is woven into the essence of our faith. That is why we pray. We constantly experience a Spirit of dependence, and that kind of attitude is vital in the heart of what God creates when he calls a person to conversion. The second meaning we see here, and I think it's probably the one that is the most important intention here, is that we need to pray repeatedly and often. I base it on the way he used the word “ceasing”. (Greek adialeiptōs. We find the same word in Romans 1:9. Listen how Paul uses the same word in Romans. He says: "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you”. Now we can be sure that Paul did not in every minute or second of his prayers or in his preaching, mentioned something about Romans. He prayed and talked about many other things besides the Romans. But he looked at them repeatedly when referring. He often mentioned them and referred to them. This means that he always, repeatedly, and without fail, went down on his knees and he always prayed for them. That's basically, what I think he meant by "pray without ceasing”. In other words, do it repeatedly and as often as possible. Without ceasing, also means that you, as a true believer, should never reach a point in your life when you say things like: Prayer doesn't work. I'm done and therefore I give up on prayer. It rather means that: Don't ever do that! The key here is to take joy, and always pray continuously. In other words, to rather pray all the time, Leaning on God and calling out to Him repeatedly and regularly. To Never stop looking at Him in seeking for help. We need to come to Him repeatedly, during the day and night, and we need to come often. This will assist in Strengthen our state of mind with a Divine longing and a Divine gratitude to Him alone. Discipline in Prayer is extremely important to us as children of the Lord. We as truly believers, can't afford not to seek the face of the Lord, only when we do not feel like it. If this is the case, we can only expect the answers as we feel. Maybe it will be useful to say that I think it is important to note that, in real life, certain disciplines, like regular times of prayer during the day, will keep you in a discipline that will keep your prayer life, alive. I have heard so many people say that they want to spontaneously pray. They always want to be in a spirit of prayer. They don't have set times of prayer as it is not necessary. It is acceptable, they say. I personally think that this is ridiculous way of reasoning. My honest opinion, it's an unbiblical practice and I think it's unrealistic for people to think of themselves, that they to do what they think is good. The truth is, the Bible is full of discipline. Daniel in the Old Testament is a good example of this kind of discipline, because we know that Daniel in critical moments of crisis of his life prayed to God for example, "Oh God, help me". Something is being asked here for which the immediate answer cannot be given. Where did it come from? Well, Daniel 6:10 says: “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously”. That was his pattern. He maintained his pattern of discipline through being in prayer three times a day. He prayed to God and gave thanks, as well as testifying before his God. So, the point is that Daniel lived a life that was disciplined, combined with spontaneous encounters with God, and I think this is the example of how it should be with our prayer life. If we hope to pray day and night without ceasing in the way that Paul calls us to do, to enjoy that kind of constant communion with God and that repeated "come to Him" ​​discipline, then our disciplined times of prayer, will develop automatically. There are many different opinions about these specific events and prayer and my prayer is that we will look at this with all seriousness and that the discipline of prayer, will be maintained by us, and that we will know that all prayer must be considered as important. Now there are many people who think that this particular prayer has no meaning in the modern times in which we find ourselves. I disagree with this and want to point out and elaborate on this. This brings me to the second truth, namely,

2. Second, this prayer is relevant because of "who" is praying here.

Look again at Verses 23 – 24: "On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them”. Luke does not say here that they went to "the other apostles". No, he says they went to "their friends," that is, to "their own people." The words "own people" is also used once in Acts 24:23, where it says that Felix commanded that none of Paul's own people, this therefore refers to "his own" must be prevented becomes to meet his needs. This is the same word that in John 1:11 be used, “Jesus came to His own and His own people did not have Him not adopted." The "own people" simply refers to family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, neighbors, etc. Therefore, this prayer is relevant to us because it is not by someone with special rights and privileges, but by professing Christians like you and me. It is the church of Jesus Christ that is gathered here beloved, and not just the apostles and highly learned, who pray here that God will give them the boldness, as well as healing the sick and will do signs and wonders. The prayer is therefore relevant as result of who prayed it. In other words, it is just normal people like you and me who confess that we know Jesus Christ.

Peter and John have just been released from jail. Verse 23 says that they must tell other believers, specifically what the chief priests and elders said. Verse 29 gives us clues as to what it was that needed to be said. Take note of what is being said in the prayer, by the believers; "And now, Lord, look upon their threats.” In other words, Peter and John told them about the threats mentioned in verses 18 and 21. In verse 18 the priests and elders demanded that Peter and John; "not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus”. In verse 21, however, the threats become more serious. The reason for this prayer is therefore very serious, as it is highlighting the dangerous threats against the preaching of God's Word in the name of Jesus Christ. There were extraordinary obstacles in the way of the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is precisely why the church is so eagerly spending urgent time in prayer. They realise, that they do not accept the fact that they can continue to progress in effective ministry without a new baptism with the Spirit. They declare their deep dependence on the Holy Spirit for guidance. Fear can paralyze them at any moment. One look into their children's eyes, and they want to run away where it is comfortable and safe and no longer run the risk of speaking of Jesus Christ in public. This would be the easy way out and that is why this prayer is so relevant to us, due to its opportunity it offers. Beloved, we also face tremendous obstacles in our lives, daily. Persecution of Christians is a way of life in many countries of the world. All over the world, persecution against Christians is increasing and freedoms of the Christian faith are threatened. All this is because the secular and modern church feels more and more threatened by the Truth of God's Word. These truths namely, that there is only one way to God and that there is one set of commandments which for everyone applies, is just not to be accepted by the modern way of living.

With the anonymity of neighbourhoods that through mobility is created; the entertainment industry that keeps people attracted with and in the world, and its call outs lacking for spiritual things; a complete God-ignorant culture; a medical technology so advanced and so available that people rarely think of turning to God for help or even thanking them for healing received; as well as the relative weakness of the church that moved away from the Truth and are trapped in the values ​​of this world, that is supposed to confront a radical Truth about the Biblical God, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, do you see the real challenge of a true Biblical Church? As the early Christians, with their first-hand experience of the resurrected Jesus Christ and their immediate access to apostles and eyewitnesses, a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit had to seek to continue in their situation, how much more let us not pursue the same.

3. Thirdly, To Whom was prayed, makes this prayer even more relevant to us.

This prayer, as it is, declares to us Who God Is. It is remarkable that these Christians take five verses to tell God, who He is. It also takes two verses to ask what they want from Him. Now, God does not need to be told who He is. We as Christians must know who He is, and in our prayers we must surely know and confess that He is the God who can and will answer our prayers. Essentially what happens here in verses 24–28, is to sanctify God's name even before they pray: "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them”. They identify God in two ways. First, they say that He is the Creator of all things. Therefore they appeal to Him as the Creator of all. They know that if God, like everything on earth, like the sea and heaven, then these elders and priests are His property, and He can do as He wills. Secondly, they say that God is the One who is the Ruler over everything, even the deeds of evil men. He destroys the anger of the heathen and frustrates the plans of His adversaries. They say this through Psalm 2 in verses 1 and 2, and then by showing that the psalm was fulfilled in the way that God was in charge when evil men killed His Son Jesus Christ. Let’s look at Verses 27–28 again: “for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place”. Let me explain,

In other words, just as Psalm 2:1 says: "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?” You see, their anger comes to nothing and their imagination is empty, for God even reigns over the sinful deeds of men and let them stand back. Why? Because Jesus Christ has stood up and the stone which the builders rejected became the Head and Cornerstone of the Church. All their anger and all their imagination are in their faces, as it were exploded.

You and I must remember that this is all a prayer! All this is in the Old Testament prophesy, yes, the asking for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This is the relevance for us, to our prayers today. Many will tell us that doctrine and theology is not important if you have the power of the Holy Spirit. But this early Christians knew better. For them the doctrine of creation, the doctrine of the inspired Scripture, as per verse 25, the doctrine of God's Sovereignty even over the voluntary acts of sinful people, the knowledge of Old Testament prophecies, all these things were essential to them. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of the Truth. He is not indifferent to bad doctrines in the mind when he comes to fill the heart. If we want His fullness, we will do good around us to fill our thoughts with the truth about Him and His Son that the Scriptures reveal to us. Only then will we begin to pray more like the early Christians, because we understand the seriousness of this communication method, as well as the fact of Who we are talking to.

4. Fourthly, this prayer is relevant because of the answer that came from this prayer. (Verse 31).

Here we must specifically note the parallels described here during the Pentecost events. In Acts 2:4 it is written: "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance”. And these words, "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit", is the same verb, as we find here in verse 31. Here God shakes the “place in which they were gathered”, to demonstrate His power. In Acts 2:2 there is a sound from heaven that came like “a mighty rushing wind”. It is noted here that they speak the Word of God with boldness. They began the great things of God in speaking in languages. (Acts 2:4 to 11). In other words, the Pentecost was the first great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church of God. And here follows the next event. In both cases God gives a physical demonstration of His power. In both cases He gives the fullness of the Holy Spirit to His Church. The Pentecost was a unique outpouring of the Holy Spirit, to empower the church for testimony about God. The blessing of Pentecost would happen in different ways and in different ways through Acts of the church and through the church history. This prayer is relevant today because of the answer that came. Namely the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit is precise which is so badly needed in the church around the world because of the various challenges that we are currently facing. This is true even in the best of churches and Christians lives. Note that the people on whom this blessing came are not the disobedient ones or the unbelievers. Some of them, like Peter and John, were passionate in their obedience. In fact, verse 8 indicates that Peter with the Holy Spirit was filled when he stood up to speak in the courtroom. Now he becomes and fulfilled the other praying saints again in this extraordinary way. Even though you love many things about God and the Church and perhaps you think that God's blessing is upon you and me, but the instruction and answer is clear, namely that the Holy Spirit is exactly what we need every day. We cannot exist without God's indwelling Spirit within us. Not because we and the church are bad, but because the need and the hardness of the world is so big. We are in a constant war with the modern world and church. In verse 29 they come to their request as we read: "And now, Lord, look upon their threats”. It is their first request to God. Their request is that; "Watch, Lord, look what is at stake in their threats. They ordered us not to speak the Name of your Son anymore. Do you see what is at stake here? So, wake yourself up, because nothing is greater of importance than the honour of Your Son Jesus Christ. Stand up. Take note. Look at their threats." Beloved, this is the same kind of argument in the court of heaven. Here's why You must help, Lord: their threats are against your Son's reputation. Here's what we need, so that we do not fall for their threats. Look again at verses 29 and 30; " And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Again, here we have three things that are being asked, namely, that God will give them boldness; that he his hand would reach out to heal people; and that he would leave signs and wonders happen and all this in the Name of Jesus Christ. In other words, the desire is to be empowered in such a way that the Name of Jesus Christ will be justified. This, my dear brother, and sister, is relevant for us today, precisely, because it is for us to show how we must seek the power of God's Spirit. We should pray for it as they did, and remember, that Jesus says not to lose heart, but to keep searching and knocking and asking the Father for the Holy Spirit (Luke 11). And this means not just praying in a general way, for the outpouring of God's Spirit, no, but rather in specific ways. Meaning, for the gift of bold proclamation, that His hand is stretched out to heal, and that His Son's Name is honoured and confirmed by His signs and wonders. Beloved, Preaching is primarily because of the fact, that the gospel, is the power of God unto salvation. But signs and wonders are useful witnesses of the Word of grace. In Acts 14:3 the following words are written; "So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands”. This is a very relevant prayer beloved. Not for any introspective people who simply, in unusual experiences are not interested, but for a people who yearn for the salvation of sinners and the glorification of God's glory, as well as the public justification of Jesus' name through the preaching of God's Word alone. Beloved, if this is what you and I want, then this is the way to pray. All prayers must be God-centered prayers!

In closing, this prayer is relevant in our days because of.

• The answer that came.

• It is relevant because of who is praying.

• It is relevant because of who it was prayed for.

• It is relevant because of what was asked.

There is power in prayer, do you believe it?