Bold Prayers, Bold Mission

Good morning, church and everyone watching and listening online! Can you imagine the scene? Peter and John, two of Jesus' closest followers, returning from an intense encounter with the chief priests and elders. The room is full of hushed anticipation as the door opens. All eyes are on them as they step into the space where their fellow believers have been anxiously waiting.

They've just faced the authorities, the very same people who orchestrated Jesus's crucifixion. Now, they carry with them not only a message of warning, but also a challenge that would set the course for the early church, and indeed for all of us today.

The question is, when the world threatens us, when the world tries to silence the message of Jesus, how do we respond? What do we do when we're told to keep quiet about the truth we hold so dearly? Do we retreat, do we compromise, or do we gather our brothers and sisters, look up to heaven and pray for boldness?

Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to step into one of the most powerful moments of the early church. A moment of challenge, a moment of unity, and a moment of supernatural boldness.

Welcome to today's message: "Bold Prayers, Bold Mission".

Let's journey back to the roots of our faith, as we learn from the early church about the power of prayer and the courage to carry out God's mission, regardless of the opposition we face.

So, get ready, church, as we dive deep into the heart of the early church's reaction and see how their bold prayers led to a bold mission!

Acts 4:23–31 NKJV

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ 27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

What was the response of the early church to opposition?

They Were United in Prayer

Acts 4:23–24 NKJV

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

A. Peter and John, upon release, didn’t hide in fear. Instead, they gathered their fellow believers, shared their experience, and collectively raised their voices in prayer to God.

B. We can learn from their response. When faced with opposition, our first instinct should be to seek God in prayer, ideally in unity with other believers.

It was a united prayer meeting.

The people were of one heart and mind, and God was pleased to answer their requests. Division in the church always hinders prayer and robs the church of spiritual power.

God is not through with His church. It’s still His Plan A.

C. Consider the church in Afghanistan, an Islamic state by constitution, a country that does not permit any faith other than Islam to exist.

To convert to a faith outside Islam is tantamount to treason because it’s seen as a betrayal of family, tribe and country. Very often, there is only one possible outcome for exposed and caught Christians: death.

But the church is growing. According to the mission research organization Operation World, the secret church in Afghanistan is rapidly multiplying despite the intense opposition, the organization reported. And Afghans are being reached, in part, by Iranians because their languages are similar.

They Recognized God’s Sovereign Power

Acts 4:24–26 NKJV

24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’

A. In their prayer, the disciples acknowledge God's sovereignty.

I want us to notice that they addressed God as “Sovereign Lord” who is in control of all things.

The Greek word gives us our English word despot, a ruler who exercises absolute power, either benevolently or abusively. Simeon used this same title when he prayed in the temple (Luke 2:29).

It is good to know the Sovereign Lord when you are experiencing persecution.

They also approached Him as the Creator, for, if your Father is “Lord of heaven and earth,” what have you got to fear?

Their prayer was based solidly on the Word of God, in this case Psalm 2:1-2

The Word of God and prayer must always go together. John 15:7 says: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

Psalm 2 describes the revolt of the nations against the Lord and His Christ.

The early church applied the message of this Psalm to their own situation. But it was all a part of God’s perfect plan, so there was no need to fear.

B. This is a call to acknowledge God's sovereignty in all circumstances, even when they seem challenging or unfair.

C. Think about Corrie Ten Boom, who acknowledged God's sovereignty even while imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps. She held steadfast to the belief that God was in control, a faith that allowed her to forgive, to heal, and to minister to countless others after the war.

Next...

The Early Church Requested Boldness

Acts 4:27–29 NKJV

27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

A. The disciples didn't ask for safety or for the opposition to disappear. Instead, they asked for boldness to speak God's word and for God to continue displaying His power.

They didn’t ask for protection; they asked for power.

The early church strongly believed in God’s sovereignty and His perfect plan for His people.

But notice that they did not permit their faith in divine sovereignty to destroy human responsibility, for they were faithful to witness and pray.

It is when God’s people get out of balance and overemphasize either sovereignty or responsibility that the church loses power.

Again, we are reminded of Augustine’s wise words, “Pray as though everything depends on God, and work as though everything depended on you.”

Faith in a sovereign Lord is a tremendous encouragement for God’s people to keep serving the Lord when the going is difficult.

B. Like the early disciples, we must pray for boldness in proclaiming God's word, despite opposition or threat.

Lastly, we notice...

The Power of Bold Prayer

Acts 4:30–31 NKJV

30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

A. Their prayer concluded with a profound sign of God's approval: the place where they gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s word with boldness.

The name of Jesus Christ has not lost its power, but many of God’s people have lost their power because they have stopped praying to the sovereign God.

“Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God.” I don’t know who first said that, but the statement is absolutely true.

Dr. R.A. Torrey, the noted evangelist and educator, said, “Pray for great things, expect great things, work for great things, but above all—pray.”

The early church prayed, and God answered in mighty power.

B. Just as the early disciples did, we must invite God’s power into our lives through bold, faithful prayer. Let’s get out of our bubble.

Listen to Nick Vujicic, who didn’t allow adversity to keep him from sharing God’s message.

Video

Let’s get out of the bubble.