A Sunday School Lesson On Acts Chapter 4 continued

What to do when you are persecuted

as we covered last week the opposition that they disciples faced after healing the lame man, I would like for us to consider some things that happened after this fact.

Go to the people you know will help you

After the disciples were threatened they did not run away from what God told them to do.

We can not run from what God wants us to do, we know this all to well from personal experience, and also from stories like Adam and Eve , Jonah and others.

Acts 4:23 KJV 1900

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

Acts 4:23

When trouble arises Get around God’s people.

you will see that in our story the very first thing that Peter and John did after they were released was to go to their own company. (look at verse 23)

verse 23

as we covered last week the opposition that they disciples faced after healing the lame man, I would like for us to consider some things that happened after this fact

And when They ( their own company) heard it ( what the chief priest and elders had done to Peter and John, they lifted up their voice to God look at verse 24

As we read the prayer that was prayed that day we realize that the disciple understood that the rulers and Elders were taking out their hate of Jesus and his teachings of the resurrection out on His followers. (See Verse 24 - 27)

2. Be Honest with God

honesty is very important in the avenue of prayer for without it we will never get answers from God!

the disciples asked God for three different things in their prayer

1.Behold their threatenings

2.Boldness to speak His word

3. Healing, signs , and wonders.

we must remember that the early church did not have the complete word of God (as it was not complete yet) and today we can see how that the Bible over and over tells us to ask seek and Knock, and God according to His will answers the Prayers of His children.

Imagine the excitement as we pick up reading in verse 31

we see the results of the prayers of the disciples, first of all we see

1 The Fact that God heard their prayers

It is very important that when we pray that our hearts are right with God Both in attitude, and pureness of heart.

2. God empowered them

Sadly most christians go through their Christian life without the power of God and they wonder why it is so hard to serve the Lord.

We can draw a very important conclusion concerning the prayer that the church prayed that day. and that is that they prayed in Faith.

the Bible tells us in

The prayer was answered

the place was shaken

they were filled with the Holy Ghost

they spake the word of God with Boldness