Acts 4:23-31

RECAP:

Jesus rose from the dead, spent 40 days with the disciples and then ascended into heaven promising to send the Holy Spirit

The apostles waited and the Holy Spirit came to them and they received miraculous gifting

Peter Preached

Thousands were saved

The church was in it’s honeymoon stage

Peter and John went to the temple

They saw a man who was lame from birth (not a sprained ankle) and they healed him.

he was not super chill about it

Peter preached to the gathered crowd and many believed.

Peter and John arrested, stand before the temple leaders and boldly stand firm

Acts 4:23–31 ESV

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 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. 29 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.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Lets take a look at that last verse again:

Acts 4:31 ESV

31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

ever had that happen?

What makes a prayer a Foundation shaking prayer?

Prayer that brings down the house

Foundation shaking prayer involves the whole church

Acts 4:23–24 (ESV)

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

They immediately contacted their lawyers….They had a meeting to talk about it….

No.

They went to their fellow believers

They prayed together

24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God…

This may have been in a home OR they may have gone RIGHT back to Solomon’s portico

A Concert of prayer.

Corporate prayer

“I don’t like to pray in public”

I am afraid:

Psalm 56:3–4 ESV

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

I don’t know what to say:

Acts 4:13 ESV

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

I am embarrassed, I don’t feel worthy:

Love one another, bare one another's burdens, encourage one another, be kind to one another

We are FAMILY!

That doesn't mean that you have to pray every time that doesn't mean that you have to pray long and with big fancy words

This also shouldn't come as a burden laid on you instead, I want you to feel freedom to pray, without being judged or looked down on

That's one of the reasons it's often good to vocally agree with someone as they are praying

The second thing that we see, is that:

Foundation shaking prayer acknowledges that God is on the throne

Acts 4:24–28 ESV

24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 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.

Is prayer lacking in your life? Is prayer lacking in the church?

Prayer reveals humble and complete submission to and reliance on God.

Lack of prayer indicates pride, complacency, arrogant, self-assuredness, and the lack of true belief

God is Sovereign ruler

God is the creator

There is no place for pride in prayer

The third characteristic is:

Foundation Shaking prayer is grounded in scripture

Acts 4:25–26 ESV

25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

This comes from

Psalm 2:1–6 (ESV)

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

Through the Psalmist you said this would happen so we KNOW that what is happening is within your plan and in your control

Prayerfully read the Bible

I've said this before and I'll say it again you need to read the Bible. You need to know the Bible.

I feel like sometimes people think I'm kidding or that I am just saying the thing that a pastor is supposed to say

Prayerfully read the Bible

“What does this mean?” “Help me to understand”, “I understand, help me to submit!”

Biblically pray

“Your word says this…” “You have promised….” “The psalmist says….” “In the Old testament God you did _______ to your people….” “In the early church God you did _______”

If our prayers have their foundation in scripture, they will be aligned with God’s will

And the Bible tells us that if we ask according to his, will, he will do that which we ask

That brings me to point number four and that is that:

Foundation shaking prayer makes requests with faith that God will do it

Acts 4:29–30 ESV

29 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.”

1. for boldness and courage in their efforts to proclaim the gospel

2. for healings and signs and wonders which confirm their message.

notice they asked for boldness, God has told us that we will experience hostility

this request reveals their humble submission to God.

So What?

Sandusky Life Church Prayer Challenge

Be a part of the Sanctuary Prayer next Sunday

Pray FOR someone this week

Pray WITH someone this week

Pray using scripture this week

Pray for something big with faith that God will do it