The Power of Fervent Prayer

Context

Good morning Church!!! Isn’t it good to be with God’s people, in God’s house, for God’s glory?

If you have your Bibles, we are going to be in Acts 4:23-31.

While everyone is finding the passage, I want to take just a few moments to get us up to speed.

Last week, we looked at where Peter and John had been arrested and spent the night in jail. On the next day, they were brought before the Sanhedrin Council for questioning concerning how they were able to perform this miracle of healing on a man who was over forty and had been crippled since birth. They were able to give this man his legs! When they did, this man went leaping and shouting throughout the temple during the time of prayer. Obviously, this drew a crowd.

As the crowd gathered and began to stare in amazement, Peter used the opportunity to preach to them concerning Jesus Christ. Many of those present received Christ and were added to the church, but the religious leaders were angry that they continued to teach in the name of Jesus. This is what got them arrested and thrown in jail. This is what got them before the council. This is what got them set free. As we will see today, this is what fired up the church so that miracles and ministries would continue!!!

Let’s read our passage for today:

Acts 4:23–31 NKJV

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ 27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Content

Their Return (vs. 23)

Everyone has heard the old adage, “Birds of a feather flock together.” “After they were released, they went to their own people,” says Luke. Did you know that this is one of the incidental proofs that we are truly a part of God’s family?

See, when the pressure of performance is off, we gravitate to our own kind. When there is no show to perform, we relax where it is comfortable. When we are not trying to appease someone else’s expectations over our lives, we are ourselves with our people.

I have to ask: “Where is your comfortable place?” “Are you in performance mode when you are around God’s people?” “When you think of family, do the people you go to church with come to mind?”

One of the incidental proofs that we are a part of the family of God, is that we want to be in fellowship with them. We want to spend time with them. We want to have conversations with them. We naturally gravitate towards them.

When Peter and John were released from custody, they went to the church. They went to share what had happened to them. They shared the miracle that God performed through them. They introduced this man to his family. They spoke of their persecution. They revealed how the Holy Spirit of God come over Peter and spoke through him, just as Jesus said He would. They told them of how the Sanhedrin was at a loss for words, since it was an obvious sign that had been done. They told them everything!!!

They shared the glory of God with one another. Notice that Peter and John were not complaining, not gossiping, not exaggerating, and not lying. They were bragging on God. Look at what God did for us. God healed a man. God give me the words to say, and many people were saved. God kept us safe in jail overnight. God spoke through us as we stood before the council. God limited the power of the religious rulers so that we could return safely to you. Look at what all God did for us!!!

Their Reaction (vs. 24-30)

Prayer

The Source of Their Prayer

Belief

They Believed In God’s Omniscience. (vs. 25-26)

They Believed In God’s Omnipotence.

His Creative Power (vs. 24)

His Sovereign Power (vs. 27-28)

Faith (vs. 29-30)

Their Result (vs. 31)

When they had finished doing what they could do, God did what only He could do.

Can you imagine being in an atmosphere such as that. A place where God’s people come together in unity to thank God for what He has already done, and then ask for His blessings to flow down upon them. Not so that they could feel better; not so that they could be better; but so that the name of Jesus Christ might be glorified.

It says that God rattled the rafters on that place!!! As their prayers went up, God’s provision came down. My how we need a shaking like that in our society today. If some of our folks in the house of the Lord could feel the Almighty power of God flowing through their veins, it would forever change them. Once you feel that presence, you can’t forget it. I used to think that absolutely nothing could top the feeling that I had on the day that I got saved, but friend let me tell you something, that is just the tip of the iceberg. It gets so much better as you get so much closer. We are missing out on so much that God has for us, simply because we are operating free and clear of His Holy Spirit.

Once they received the Holy Spirit of God, they were able to do that which they asked God for. They spoke with boldness His righteous Word.

Commitment

May we follow the example of the early church and come together in perfect unity.

May we be willing to set aside our petty differences for the common God of God’s kingdom and glory.

May we always remember the scriptures that God has given us as a guide so that we might always believe in His name and never forget who He is and what He has done.

May we pray in faith as they did, believing that God is able to do abundantly more than we can even ask or think, and may we be willing to agonize in prayer for the things that matter most in this life and the next.

May we always keep the main things the main things and pray for what brings glory to God and His son Jesus Christ.

May we always seek to operate out of the leadership of God’s Holy Spirit within us.

This is our commitment for this is His Word!!!