One Accord

Prayer • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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How were the 12 Disciples and their rag-tag group of believers about the spread the gospel around the world in one generation? How can we access the same power they had for evangelism? What has united prayer got to do with all of this?

Notes

Transcript

Nebraska

brandings

Intending to raise cattle, a family from New York bought a ranch out West. When their friends visited and inquired about the ranch’s name, the would be rancher replied: “I wanted to name it the Bar-J. My wife favored Suzy-Q, one of our sons wanted the Flying-W, and the other liked the Lazy-Y. So we’re calling it the BAr-J-Suzy-Q-Flying-W-Lazy-Y.”

Power of Pentecost

Look at the unity

Acts 1:14 ESV

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

From

in fighting

Unity

From

drama

peace

From

confusion

clarity

From

betrail

Surrender

From

disbelief

Absolute Faith

From

disappointment

appointment

Like a movie

drama

action

emotion

Like a movie

but real

eternal.

Power is:

changed hearts

UNITY

Unity

We all want unity.

Nobody likes

chaos

discord

broken relationship

animosity

apathy

Seek

harmony

connection

Greatest unity

Spiritual unity

Why?

A.W. Tozer

The Pursuit of God

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”

Let’s study

this tuning process

Look at Pentecost

Background Context

Assencion Day

Calls them to Him

Mount of Olives

Ready to leave

Gives Promise

Promises

Acts 1:4–5 ESV

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

and again:

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Twice Promises Power

Then He disappears

Instruction:

Wait in Jerusalem

Power of the Spirit

Wait...

Do nothing???

10 days

of waiting...

Flurry of activity

remembering

repenting

reconciling

forgiving

Bible study

One important Aspect

Acts 1:14 ESV

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Among all things

devoted to prayer.

Prayer Preemanent

Most Important

The Result?

Acts 2:1 NKJV

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

they were ready

ready for power

ready for service

Earnest United Prayer

changes hearts

creates harmony

United vs. Private

Need both

private

united

Private

long

Public Worship

short

United Prayer Time

long

The promise is made on the condition that the united prayers of the church are offered, and in answer to these prayers, there may be expected a power greater than that which comes in answer to private prayer. The power given will be proportionate to the unity of the members and their love for God and for one another.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 9, p. 303 (Letter 32, 1903, p. 5)

Organize Prayer

Joel 1:14 ESV

Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.

Prayer Meeting

Come

Prayer Line

GCC

Prayer and Fasting Day

Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists Appeals for Our Missions

In every church there should be stated seasons for united prayer for the advancement of this work. Let all be united, having a specific object for their faith and entreaties. Brethren, move high heaven with your prayers for God to work with the efforts of his servants.

April 3

First Sabbath of Quarter