SHAKE THE BUILDING
Text: Acts 4:23-31
Introduction
1. Illustration: John Stott has pointed out that “persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.” That clash is what we are seeing now, and it is ultimately between those who believe, trust, and love the God of the Bible and those who do not. The changes afoot today represent a sea-change from the past; the wind is no longer on our back but in our face. This is creating a cultural climate in the West in which persecution of Jesus’s followers is happening.” (C.S Lewis Institute Persecution)
2. The persecution of the Church is nothing new. It has been happening since the earliest days of the church. However, our response must be one that honors Jesus.
3. We can take the example of Peter and John as the illustration of how we must respond.
4. Read Acts 4:23-31
Proposition: The way to deal with persecution is through the power of prayer!
Transition: First, we must…
A. Acknowledge The God is in Control (23-28).
1. O Sovereign Lord
1. It’s important that we take notice of what Peter and John did after they were threatened by the council. Look with me at v. 23, “As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said.
a. When they were threatened by the council the apostles didn’t run and hide nor did they complain that they were being persecuted.
b. No, they went to the church. They joined with other believers and told them what had happened.
c. They spontaneously joined in prayer because they knew that if God could create the universe, he could save them from their persecutors.
d. They believed that God is sovereign over heaven and earth.
2. In v. 24 Luke tells us, “When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.”
a. He tells us that the believers “joined their voices together.”
b. That word “together” means “to be in agreement, and to have one mind and purpose.”
c. Interestingly, of the 12 times that word appears in the NT, it appears 11 times in the Book of Acts.
d. It shows us that the sign of a Spirit-Filled church is that they are unified.
e. They prayed “O, Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.”
f. They recognized that the Lord, the Creator, is sovereign over all the earth, and the Creator is more powerful than the created.
2. Then in vv. 25-26, their prayer continued. “you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans 26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the LORD and against his Messiah.’”
a. They prayed the Scripture, and they referenced King David, and if there was anyone who knew about persecution it was David.
b. In his lifetime he had people from other nations who chased after him, his own king Saul chased after him, and even his own son chased after him.
c. David recognized that the plans of evil people are futile compared to the power of the sovereign Lord.
3. Then they recognized that they were in good company. “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.”
a. Even Jesus himself was persecuted by these same religious leaders. Harod Anitpas and Pilate the Roman governor had conspired against Jesus the Messiah.
b. However, they also acknowledge that this was all a part of God’s sovereign will.
c. It was Jesus’ mission all the time to go to the cross, and God had merely used these evil men to accomplish this task.
d. Jesus had told them when he was with them, “Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.” (Jn 15:20).
e. Like the apostle’s, we need to remember that if they persecuted Jesus, they would persecute us.
f. But remember, you’re in good company!
B. God of Israel as Their Helper
1. Illustration: Author Eugene Peterson says in Reversed Thunder, "While conflicts raged between good and evil, prayers went up from devout bands of 1st century Christians all over the Roman empire. Massive engines of persecution and scorn were ranged against them. They had neither weapons nor votes. They had little money and no prestige." But they did have prayer. And that prayer helped shape the course of history.
2. The way to deal with persecution is to acknowledge the sovereignty of God and cry out to him in prayer.
a. “But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God. 6 He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever.” (Ps 146:5-6)
b. As western Christians, we have a false sense of security when it comes to being people of faith in our society.
c. Granted, we are not facing the same kind of persecution that our brothers and sisters in places like China and the Muslim world are, but it is plain to see that it is coming.
d. Many of you here today remember a time when the bible was used in the schools, and every day was begun with prayer.
e. But that has changed, and now people of faith in our public schools and our universities and colleges are ridiculed for their faith.
f. If that was not enough, bible believing Christians are even being looked down upon in some churches.
g. What must we do? We must acknowledge the sovereignty of our almighty God and cry out to him in prayer.
h. The God who created us is greater than his creation.
i. There is no power greater than our God!
Transition: Next, we must…
II. Ask God for Strength (29-31).
A. The Meeting Place Shook
1. Now, I want you to notice what they prayed for. In vv. 29-30 it says, “And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
a. They didn’t ask God for vengeance against their persecutors. They didn’t even pray for the persecution to stop.
b. First, they prayed for boldness in preaching the word. God if they tell us to be quiet, give us the power to get louder.
c. Help us not to give into their threats but to be bold and not give up and help us to tell people about you everywhere!
d. Second, they prayed for the power to do miracles so that others could see the sovereign power of God.
e. They prayed for miracles and healing done by the hand of Jesus.
f. When a preacher prays for someone to be healed and they are healed, it has nothing to do with the preacher and everything to do with Jesus!
2. Now check this out! Look how God responds to their prayers, “After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.”
a. They prayed for God to show up, and guess what, God showed up in a big way.
b. First, the power of God was in that place so powerfully that the building shook!
c. The shaking of the building was an indication that God was there, he had heard their prayers, and he was happy about it!
d. It was a physical manifestation of the Almighty God - El Shadai!
e. One of my favorite bible scholars, I. Howard Marshall says, “It would have been regarded as indicating a divine response to prayer.” It was God’s way of indicating that he was present there and would answer the prayer.” (Ajith Fernando, Acts, The NIV Application Commentary, 170).
f. Second, God answers their prayer in a big way.
g. They were all filled, another fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, and they preached the word of God with boldness.
h. God gave them exactly what they asked for!
B. Ask God to Give Me the Right Words
1. Illustration: “The power of prayer is not in the one praying but in the One who hears our prayers” (Max Lucado).
2. In persecution, we pray to the hand that moves the world!
a. “And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.” (Eph. 6:19-20).
b. Paul was in prison as he wrote this letter, but he didn’t ask the believers to pray for his release.
c. Paul was in chains, but he didn’t ask the believers to ask God to break those chains.
d. No, he asks them to pray that he would keep on speaking boldly for Jesus as he should.
e. We must ask God to allow us to keep preaching his Word during persecution.
f. Just as Peter and John prayed, Lord give us great boldness!
g. It doesn’t matter where the persecution comes from, we must pray for God to give us the strength to keep preaching his Word.
h. We must not give up or give out, but we must stand up and stand out for the truth of the Gospel.
Conclusion
1. The way to deal with persecution is through the power of prayer.
2. In our prayer, we must...
a. Acknowledge the Sovereignty of God
b. Ask God for Strength
3. What’s the point preacher? Persecution is coming, and the way we deal with it is through the power of prayer.
