Month of Prayer and Fasting 2025

Background to passage: Three things keep happening in these chapters (2-4). First, the gospel of the death and resurrection of Christ was being preached. Second, people’s lives were being changed when they believed. Third, the authorities were not happy and sought ways to silence the church. What we find here is how the church responds—a plea to the God of the universe for boldness.

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.

Opening illustration: On New Year’s Eve we were watching the Boise St/Penn St ballgame up late and Mackenzie got a notification that if we starting watching Forrest Gump right now, we would be at the New Year’s celebration with Lt. Dan when the ball dropped. Of course, if you know the movie, that is one of the worst scenes in the movie. Regardless, the first action scene with Lt. Dan illustrates my point. You may remember they are in Vietnam, it’s been raining for weeks, it stops and bullets and bombs begin to fly from an ambush. There were two kinds of men of prayer at that moment figuratively, many that prayed for individual deliverance and for their lives to be spared. However, Lt. Dan was in command of his platoon, didn’t want to leave, called in the airstrikes for the furtherance of the mission, being willing to sacrifice his own life for the advancement of the cause.

Main thought: This morning we will see three aspects of corporate prayer, because as we look toward 2025, a fresh vision from the Lord, and the work from the Refocus Team, we must determine right now if we are going to pray for individual needs or the mission of God for us!

1) Foundation of our Prayer: Person of God (v. 23-28)

Acts 4:23–28 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.

1) The Foundation of our Prayer: Person of God (v. 23-28)

Explanation: This is the Gr word despotes, from where we get our word despot. It means master or absolute ruler. They were acknowledging who the real authority was; that of the council was only granted to them by God. They referred to his creation of all that is, and that he never was not. They referred to the futility of the nations to rage and rise against God’s one chosen man. They spoke of his absolute sovereignty in all things; that all things were accomplished according to God’s wise determination.

Think of Hannah, a woman desperate for a child. She poured out her soul before God at the temple, knowing His compassionate character. When Eli questioned her, she explained that her prayers were sincere, not empty rituals. Her deep anguish and God’s faithfulness entwined—she didn’t just pray; she engaged with the character of God, who listens with deep compassion.

Illustration: In ancient Israel, the priests would enter the Holy of Holies with fear and reverence, acknowledging the sheer holiness of God. They didn’t approach flippantly; instead, they remembered God’s unchanging nature—the same God who parted the Red Sea and provided manna in the desert. This reverence set a foundation for their prayers, knowing they were conversing with the Almighty. Like the priests, our approach to prayer today should be rooted in who God is: merciful, powerful, and always present.

Application: Praying to a God like this should invigorate our prayer life! This is our foundation. As we pray this month, start each day remembering and focusing on who God is. He is the one that bends his ear toward us. He is the one who answers every prayer. He is the one with no limitations, with the exceptions of the ones that go against his own being.

So when you think, God can’t do this, or won’t do this, or is never going to do this, know that is a lie from Satan to cause you to doubt God. We must put our faith in the true God of the bible for effective prayer. Without the proper perspective of a God who loves to answer prayer, wants to answer prayer, delights in communion with you, and has no one or nothing than can withstand him, your prayer time, our prayer time as a church body will be weak, futile, and ineffective.

2) The Focus of our Prayer: Corporate Boldness (v. 29-30)

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.”

2) The Focus of our Prayer: Corporate Boldness (v. 29-30)

Explanation: When they finally get around to a request, they do not ask for deliverance. They don’t ask for the trial to go away. They don’t ask for things to get easier. They didn’t ask for a way of escape. They asked for boldness to keep on speaking the word. Look back at v. 24, who is praying “they all lifted up their voices together” and now in v. 19, servants, plural, granted boldness. This was not simply help me in personal evangelism, although that is always a good prayer. This is “help our church to be bold in its evangelism efforts.”

Argumentation: Paul and Barnabas on the first mission journey in Acts 14 were speaking the word over and over from city to city. They came to Antioch of Pisidia, run out of town, Iconium, run out and attempted stoning, Lystra stoned and left for dead, Derbe instructed the disciples that they would have to go through tribulations. Then he went through those cities again...

Illustration: Apologize to all the GA fans. Talk about the CFP. One thing that I didn’t see is timidity. Nobody was extra careful. Nobody was dispassionate. Some were playing injured, some throwing up in between drives, sometimes plays. Some were out there when they didn’t really have to be.

Application: Are we bold in evangelism? When was the last time we did some corporate evangelism? Did you participate? Some of you are ministry leaders, if you are waiting on permission, go. If you are not a ministry leader, you can still organize an outreach. We must confront our own laziness and lack of concern for the glory of Christ and repent. Pray for boldness as the early church did.

When we come to the end of this month we want God to do a work in us that we would be bold. Something real, something tangible. Pray that we are changed. Pray that we have a freshness, a playoff mentality. This month should and must change us.

3) Fruit of our Prayer: Anointing, Word, Unity (v. 31-32a)

Acts 4:31–32 (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.

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul,

3) Fruit of our Prayer: Anointing, Word, Unity (v. 31-32a)

Explanation: Heb 11:6

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

If he is the rewarder, we must anticipate fruit. We must expect results. The early church did. Look what they received. The whole place started shaking, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, they continued to speak the word boldly, and they were of one heart and soul.

James 5:13–18 ESV

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

Illustration: the Dunkirk evacuation during World War II. When the British troops were trapped, a national call to prayer was made. Immediately after, a storm grounded the Luftwaffe, and calm seas allowed an armada of civilian boats to rescue the soldiers.

Application: If you are here, you are part of the fruit. God has sent you. If you are here, you are part of the fruit, and your job is to act. Part of the fruit of this prayer movement is the energizing and mobilizing of the body of Christ at WHBC. We are to be anointed and launched for bold ministry. We are supposed to be together as one; that’s why this book of fasting and prayer is produced, so we could all pray for the same things one the same days. We do have every day in Jan covered by someone in the church, but many are the same people over and over. Unity will be hard with only half participation.

God can shake our church to life. God can refocus our eyes. God will give us a fresh vision and direction for his glory and grandeur. God will come; he will anoint us with the oil of gladness and His Spirit for the work of ministry. He will bring unity and clear purpose for us. Pray for a holy visitation upon Western Heights that changes us forever. Believe that God will answer and show himself mighty.

Closing illustration: Don’t know if I have ever told the story of Steve. Buddy from FL from UT. Wild game dinner, squirrel hunting, lost, big storm. Desperation on both sides, fear in the pit of stomach rising up. We prayed for our friend. Maybe his life would depend on it. Monthly meeting of the rescue squad, trackers found him about 1:30 or 2:00 in the morning, wet and cold, but safe.

Multiply that desperation by 10,000. That’s the kind of desperation that we need. That’s the kind that many people out there have, needing a Savior, needing a rescue. We must enter this month and see it through with our desire, passion, discipline, as though our life, and the lives of others depended on it.

Recap