Hard Times Knocking on the Door

Acts 4:23-31

Launching question: What is the one thing you would like to be remembered for in the future?

Main Point: When difficulty comes our way, we must pray to God for strength to persevere in obedience.

Supporting Truths:

You will be persecuted for the Gospel (vs. 23, 25-29)

God is in sovereign control (vs. 24, 28)

God can give boldness to persevere in witnessing (vs. 29-31)

Observation/Interpretation Questions to help lead to main point:

Observation time (Learning to study on your own)

Context: The Church just endured their first persecution, with the uncertainties ahead, they turn to God in reliant prayer.

Difficulty! (Write that in bold on top)

I’m going to read through the passage, and I would like you take note of words that repeat themselves you might think are important… (Work through the words, esp. Lord & Boldness)

People (vs. 23)

Structure

Starting in vs. 24, what are the believers doing? (Praying, vs. 24-30)

Notice anything interesting about vs. 25-26? Look at cross references... (Psalm 2)

Goal: Understand what God says and how it applies to our lives

Now let’s dive in...

vs. 23

Once they were released, what are the apostles doing at the end of vs. 23? (Sharing the news)

vs. 24

Building on that, what’s their response to this news? (Lift their voices in prayer)

What do you think is significant about that? (Turn to God in difficulty)

What about their prayer really jumps out to you? (God’s sovereignty, trust)

What does God’s power and sovereignty mean to you when you go through difficult times? (Any answer is good, comfort, TRUST, confidence)

vs. 25-26

We’ve already covered the fact that vs. 25-26 are a quotation from Psalm 2, but can you put these verses in your own words?

Who was Psalm 2 written about? (Jesus and His suffering)

Remembering the context of our passage (Difficulty), why would the believers bring up Psalm 2 in their prayer? (Applying Scripture to their circumstances)

vs. 27

Help me see how they applied Psalm 2, to their circumstances in vs. 27? (Heathen raged were the Gentile rulers like Pilate and the Romans, people plotting vain things = Jewish leaders)

These believers took God’s truth from the past, and treasured it in their own current lives...

What does this teach us about how we handle Scripture? (Truth is applicable to our modern lives!)

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

vs. 28

Remembering that we’re talking about the people involved in the crucifixion, what repeating words in vs. 28 tell us that God’s involved in this too? (Your)

If God had the crucifixion in His plans, what do we learn about God’s plan for the bad things in our lives? (They have purpose, God’s infinite plan allows bad things to happen for the purpose of the greater good)

Just like the rulers schemed against Jesus, remembering context (difficulty), what was happening to Peter and John? (Rulers scheme against them)

vs. 29

Acts 4:29 NKJV

29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

Super important… Do the Christians dismiss the fact they’re going through hard times in vs. 29? (No) How do you know that? (“look on their threats”)

What are some things we do when we’re going through hard times? (Dismiss, deny, escape)

- Dismiss: Avoid talking about it. Family troubles; don’t talk to thhat person...

- Deny: Stubbornly tell ourselves the trouble isn’t there, keep living like you always do...

- Escape: Hide away in video games/social media (Escape from the cares of this world and make your own)

Do these believers do any of these things? (No!)

What do they ask the Lord for midway through vs. 29? (ask the Lord for boldness! Instead of turning away from danger, they ask God to strenghten them to get THROUGH it)

“God, I will be honest, the opposition is here, and on my own, I can’t do the task you’ve called me to do. That’s why I come to You now, not asking for You to take away this difficulty, but to carry me through it.”

They tell God they are His “servants”, what’s significant about that? (Task ahead of them, obedience is required even though difficulty is ahead)

Humble recognition of the task ahead, need God’s strength to accomplish it...

Quote: “Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.” Phillips Brooks

vs. 30

Can you tell me what other things these people asked God to do in vs. 30? (healing, signs, wonders through Jesus’ name)

Why would this be important to their ministry of sharing the Gospel? (Signs confirmed the message)

vs. 31

(Read verse 31)

Do you think God answered their prayer? (Did He ever!)

Filled with the Spirit and made BOLD

Applications:

For ourselves:

What does God’s sovereignty mean for us when we are facing difficult circumstances? (Trust that His plan is good)

What should be our approach when opposition and hard times come to our door? (Ask God for the ability to persevere)