The Power of Prayer Message 7

Upon this Rock

The First Days of the Church

Message 7

When the Building Shakes

Acts 4:23-32

Me:

This is the Highlight of my Ministry

a. “I have a peace about this”

i. Came here in agreement

ii. We are debt free

iii. I keep saying this, but it is a miracle.

b. I wanted to preach some wonderfully awesome sermon

i. The problem was “I” wanted it

ii. Elisha asking for a double portion

iii. Eat drink and be merry

iv. Stick with plan

v. When the building shakes.

vi. God knows

vii. God’s timing has always been perfect

We:

The First Days of the Church

a. It wasn’t an institution

i. It wasn’t a building program

It was a movement

b. What does every movement need?

It needs its heroes

ii. These are people who act in certain ways that inspire the rest of us.

iii. You are going the heart of couple in this passage

iv. My prayer is that you’ll see this kind of heart can be yours.

c. Heroes never aspire to be heroes

i. Look at Peter

ii. Timid, scared, unfaithful—he fled from Jesus at the first sign of danger and denied even knowing him.

iii. But he became a hero through his experience with the gospel.

iv. He became Gospel Driven

A Gospel Movement

i. When a person becomes gospel driven, they become a gospel movement and then the church becomes gospel driven and then the church becomes a movement then a neighborhood, community, school,

ii. If there was ever a town that needed a gospel movement

e. This is keeping the main thing the main thing

i. In this passage you’re going to what real heroes look like.

ii. Warning: what they did was not flashy—it was quiet and behind the scenes.

iii. But how they responded to threat, and danger, made them heroes.

God:

When the Building Shakes

a. Peter and John a troublesome pair

i. 3:1 “Peter and John went to the Temple”

ii. A beggar is healed

iii. Peter preaches – “you killed Christ and you gotta repent”

iv. 4:1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people

v. They get arrested

vi. Peter preaches – “you killed Christ and you gotta repent”

vii. Why not a sermon on the prodigal son – people like that one

b. When struggle comes

i. Their reactive instinct?

ii. They prayed

c. What did they pray for?

i. Traveling mercies? Safety? New elected officials?

Acts 4:23–31 GNB

23 As soon as Peter and John were set free, they returned to their group and told them what the chief priests and the elders had said. 24 When the believers heard it, they all joined together in prayer to God: “Master and Creator of heaven, earth, and sea, and all that is in them! 25 By means of the Holy Spirit you spoke through our ancestor David, your servant, when he said: ‘Why were the Gentiles furious; why did people make their useless plots? 26 The kings of the earth prepared themselves, and the rulers met together against the Lord and his Messiah.’ 27 For indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together in this city with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Jesus, your holy Servant, whom you made Messiah. 28 They gathered to do everything that you by your power and will had already decided would happen. 29 And now, Lord, take notice of the threats they have made, and allow us, your servants, to speak your message with all boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal, and grant that wonders and miracles may be performed through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God’s message with boldness.

iii. For boldness to preach even more

iv. I’m glad they did – I stand here today because they did.

d. The whole building shook

i. There’s a prayer service for you.

You:

Where does boldness and courage like that come from?

They believed in God’s sovereignty in their trial

i. What if you believed God had a purpose in your pain?

Psalm 46:10 NLT

10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

They knew the Scriptures

i. Look how they prayed!

ii. True disciples

They were in awe of the greatest hero

i. Has Jesus saved you to “sit and soak”?

ii. Got my ticket to heaven

They possessed a generous spirit

Acts 4:32 NLT

32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.

They were filled repeatedly by the Holy Spirit

i. This is such a critical part of your Christian walk.

We:

Boldness for beginners

Saying something when saying nothing would be easier

Taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves

i. Offering to pray for them

ii. Offering to share your story

iii. Stories stick but facts fade. ..... share your testimony. People are going to remember YOUR story before they will remember the scripture that you recite to them. .... scripture is important but so is your story ..... let's hear yours

Create opportunities

i. Get to know your neighbors

ii. Inviting that co-worker out to lunch

Getting involved in a ministry or mission

i. Don’t sit and soak

How about just asking God for it?

i. Take that first step this morning.

ii. Let’s shake a building