Praying through Acts- Chapter 11

Intro:

Acts 11:15 NKJV

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.

Tonight, we will continue to pray through Acts. We will focus on chapter eleven.

So far, we’ve journeyed with the New Testament church, as they’ve fulfilled the promise and command of Jesus. He told them they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they would be witnesses.

He gave them a specific game plan, spread the gospel to:

Jerusalem and Judea— Acts 2-7

Samaria— Acts 8

Ends of the Earth— Acts 10

As we noticed last week, each time the gospel went to a new region, the apostles and the church broke down new barriers.

God enabled them to do what was humanly impossible. Within one generation, the reached the then known world with the power of the resurrection of Christ.

But I had a thought, how did the gospel spread? How did people know Jesus would save them from sin? How did they learn about the Holy Spirit? How did they comprehend the reality of divine healing?

These are not trick questions, but one with a simple answer— they used their voice.

Literally, they used their voice to speak the language of the people to share a simple message, Jesus saves.

They opened their mouths and spoke OUT loud what God told them to speak, both in their native language and in tongues.

Why is this significant? What is the point of thinking of their voice?

Acts 1 - promise of power

Acts 2 - received power

Acts 3- exercised power

Acts 4 - prayed for more power

Acts 5- people lied and God displayed His power

Acts 6- conflict arose and God used people of power to help the church

Acts 7- Stephen reminded them of God’s power in history

Acts 8- walked in power to spread Gospel in Samaria

Acts 9- Saul was converted through an encounter with God’s power

Acts 10- the power of God fell on the Gentiles as Peter preached

The point is, there were not silent Christians in the early church. There was not such thing as being a private follower of Christ.

They knew what it cost Jesus to provide them a new way of living. Therefore, they could not help but speak, share, and declare all that God did for them.

We live in an era where the enemy wants to silence the church of Jesus Christ. The world is content with Christianity as long as it stays in the box and does not bother anyone.

God wants His followers to become vocal in their testimony and in their walk of faith.

To do so, we must pray and depend on the power of God. I want us to see how we can use our voice to honor God. I have three points, [A Voice to Praise], [A Voice to Preach], and [A Voice to Prophesy].

Let’s begin

1. A Voice to Praise

Acts 11:1–3 NKJV

1 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”

Chapter ten details how Peter preached to the Gentiles. His decision to even enter Cornelius’ home was a shot heard around the Jewish Christian world.

Someone went back to Jerusalem with a message to the Apostles, you will not believe what Peter has done, he preached to the Gentiles.

The non-Jewish people received the message of becoming born again, and many of the Jewish believers were upset.

Naturally, when news spreads, it rarely comes in the whole package. Instead, people often give a slanted view of what took place.

So when Peter returned to Jerusalem, he had people waiting on him, why did you EAT with the unclean people?

Peter had a choice, would he stay silent and succumb to pressure, or would he praise God for what the Lord accomplished with the Gentiles?

He chose to use His voice to praise God.

He praised God for the supernatural vision he had.

He praised God that Jesus explained the vision to him, no one can be deemed unclean who God has cleansed.

He praised God that the Lord sent people to take him to Cornelius’ home.

He praised God because the Holy Spirit helped him overcome doubt.

Then he told them the best part.

Acts 11:15–18 NKJV

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” 18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

When he was in the home of the Gentile, he used his voice to declare the goodness of God. As he did, the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles, just as He did on us at the day of Pentecost.

Peter praised God for fulfill His promise to spread the gospel. And as he glorified God, it convinced others of God’s goodness.

The enemy would like us to stay silent, but we must praise God for what He has done and will do for us.

When we praise God, it reminds us what He has done, and it helps others see what God can in and through His people.

2. A Voice to Preach

Acts 11:19–21 NKJV

19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

Now, Luke, the author of Acts, reminds us of the work of two of God’s people, Barnabas and Saul of Tarsus.

Saul of Tarsus used his voice to persecute Christians. As a result, they fled from Jerusalem to the city of Antioch. Though they were scattered abroad, they did not silence their voice.

Instead, they began preaching the gospel to Jews and others began preaching to Gentiles.

The more used their voice to preach, the more God used them to see people turn to the Lord.

When it comes to preaching, we often think of a pastor preaching a message. But to preach literally is to, proclaim, announce, or present the good news.

We can preach to our loved one, friends, and acquaintances by using every opportunity to share Jesus with them.

Once again, word reached Jerusalem that people were preaching to both Jew and Gentile. However, this time they were pleased with God’s willingness to spread His message to anyone.

They decided to send Barnabas to go and encourage those who were coming into the faith. Why was Barnabas a good fit to use his voice to proclaim the goodness of God?

Acts 11:24–25 NKJV

24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.

Barnabas was filled with the Holy Spirit and walked in the power of God. But notice what he did, he went and found Saul of Tarsus, who had been in Tarsus for years after his conversion.

That single act of getting Saul revolutionized the world. I can imagine the conversation:

Saul, God is performing great and mighty acts in Antioch, you have a gift to proclaim God’s word and preach, you need to use that gift and help us spread the gospel.

Saul went with Barnabas and for a whole year and many people heard the word of God preached.

We should use our voice to preach and proclaim what Jesus means to us and what He can do for others.

We do not have to stand behind a pulpit to preach. No, we should pray and ask God to help us proclaim His word, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. A Voice to Prophesy

Acts 11:27–30 NKJV

27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Once again God used people of prayer to do what was humanly impossible. At some point, Agabus began to prophesy or declare a great famine was coming to Judea.

His prophetic word prompted the believers in Antioch to receive and offering and send it to Judea. Notice who they used to transport the offering, Barnabas and Saul.

People who pray and depend on the Holy Spirit can receive insight into God’s plans.

This does not mean that every person is a prophet. Rather, we should seek God and listen to Him when He speaks. He will show us what He wants to accomplish.

Then, when we feel that God has spoken, we have to be willing to use our voice to share what God said. This may happen vocally through a gift of the Spirit.

But it also might happen in day-to-day conversations with others. God can give us direction or prophetic words to help others.

The key is to seek God, stay consistent in prayer, and always stay willing to use our voice to speak prophetically when God prompts us!

Close:

We have a voice for a reason. Some people use their voice to scorn or mock God. Others use their voice to gossip or share tall tales. However, God wants us to use our voice to praise Him, preach His word, and speak prophetically!

No wonder the enemy wants to silence the church.

When inner contention arose about Peter preaching to the Gentiles, Peter used His voice to praise God.

When persecution arose and they dealt with sin, many used their voice to preach about God’s grace.

When problems came and they needed direction, God used Agabus to prophesy!

When we pray, God uses our voice to speak to Him and to speak for Him.

We cannot allow ourselves to remain silent. The world shouts their filth, immorality, and antichrist ideology.

How much more should the church voice their faith in the God of the impossible whose message can change the world.

God help us use our voice to praise you, to preach your word, and to speak and think prophetically!