Praying Earnestly

Sunday, January 19, 2025

INTRO

In the month of January, we are reflecting on important take-away’s and themes in the book of Acts, with each lesson written by a different teacher from one of our house churches. This lesson was written by Alicia Rickard.

While we were going through the 28 chapters of Acts, God revealed so many things through the examples of the First Church. The one we will be discussing today is the theme we see regarding earnest prayer.

Defining “Earnest Prayer”: serious, intense, and passionate prayer that comes from the heart, soul, and mind.

READ

Question to consider as we read:

Do I pray for miracles?

Acts 4:23–31 CSB

23 After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David your servant: Why do the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers assemble together against the Lord and against his Messiah. 27 “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

Acts 9:36–42 CSB

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works and acts of charity. 37 About that time she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” 39 Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. He called the saints and widows and presented her alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Acts 12:5–16 CSB

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him. 6 When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 “Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what the angel did was really happening, but he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 After they passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and suddenly the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.” 12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had assembled and were praying. 13 He knocked at the door of the outer gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. 14 She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the outer gate. 15 “You’re out of your mind!” they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true, and they said, “It’s his angel.” 16 Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.

EXAMINE

What are the key points in these passages?

#1 | Prayer was not an after-thought

Prayer is the first thing happening (Acts 4:24; 9:40; 12:5)

Prayer was taken seriously and given such importance in these moments of challenges, hardship, and adversity

They were eager to go to God for help first

They were not praying distracted - which we all know can be a challenge at times.

They prayed knowing Who they were praying to and giving thanks to Him - this is what brought focus

#2 | They prayed for miracles - Do we pray in hopes of miracles?

Limitless praying is so powerful (Acts 12:13-16; 9:41-42; 12:15-16)

They asked God to do things that seemed impossible and miraculous

They did not put limits on God as to what they “thought” He could do

They prayed so boldly in hopes of miracles (and as we see in Acts 12:15) that they struggled to even believe it when those prayers were answered!

Sometimes God answers our prayers even greater than our human minds can imagine

Consider James 5:13–18

“Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. 17 Elijah was a human being as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit.”

REFLECT

Let’s take a moment to pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight and draw our attention to what He wants us to see and understand today

APPLY

Explore and apply the passage with these questions:

[Allow the conversation to go where people take it - we want people to feel the liberty to explore the topics of the passage that stand out to them. Select the questions from below that you think are right for the conversation, or add your own. Questions should be focused, yet open-ended. Wherever the conversation goes, help your group “land the plane” on the core idea of the lesson when you wrap up.]

Opening question: Do I pray for miracles?

What are some reasons I may minimize what I think God can do in how I pray?

What does it look like to pray earnestly?

Where we want to “land the plane”

We must challenge ourselves with the question, as we reflect on our own prayer life (attitude, boldness, passion, eagerness, etc.): Are we praying for each other and for ourselves like we really believe in miracles?

Application question for the Week

[Encourage people to provide an answer now, if they are able - to provide an opportunity for accountability and praise reports the following week.]

What area of your prayer life will you work on this week? (Boldness, expectation, focus, etc.)

Ask God to reveal where we lack hope, focus, and passion in our prayer life. Ask God to grow our Faith in Him.