Persecution Prayer (Acts 4) Series

INTRODUCTION:

Have you ever heard the idea that you shouldn’t base your beliefs and convictions on a historical book - like Acts? What do you think? Do you think that we should follow the examples of those

OUTLINE FOR TODAY

WE MUST PRAY IN SOLIDARITY - ONE ACCORD

WE MUST PRAY TO A SOVEREIGN LORD

WE MUST PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT

WE MUST PRAY IN SOLIDARITY - ONE ACCORD

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:

the term is homothumadon which means: pertaining to mutual consent or agreement - ’with one mind, by common consent, unanimously.

For example:

Romans 15:5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 15:6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Consider APPLICATIONS: We must learn to worship with one voice, we must learn to pray with one voice; this supports, I think, a dialogue, a dialogical form in worship and enough prescribed prayers that we can all enter in with one voice.

I have attended churches when everyone raised their voices aloud at the same time, with different requests. There are different kinds of prayer, to be sure. Corporate prayer should be like symphony of petitions before God; the theme is played and from the largest voice to the tiniest voice, all work together to call upon the Lord to act according to His revealed will.

I love Westminster LC 178 What is prayer? A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God,(1) in the name of Christ,(2) by the help of his Spirit;(3) with confession of our sins,(4) and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies.(5) (1)Ps. 62:8 (2)John 16:23 (3)Rom. 8:26 (4)Ps. 32:5,6; Dan. 9:4 (5)Phil. 4:6

WLC 187 How is the Lord’s prayer to be used? A. The Lord’s prayer is not only for direction, as a pattern, according to which we are to make other prayers, but may also be used as a prayer, so that it be done with understanding, faith, reverence, and other graces necessary to the right performance of the duty of prayer.

WE MUST PRAY TO A SOVEREIGN LORD

They recognized to whom they prayed. They requested from a God who was able to act, a God who was sovereign.

The NKJ says, "Lord" but the Greek word here is not the ordinary "Kurios" but "Despotes" Despo,thj -

NJB says "Master" and this is a common translation. But the NIV, NRSV, RSV, NASB, all have it best as: "Sovereign Lord"

"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.

Looking at the Structure of the Prayer, There are four parts:

1) AN ADDRESS,

2) RECITATION OF THE REVEALED WORD,

3) APPLICATION OF THAT WORD,

4) A POWERFUL AND BIBLICAL REQUEST

AN ADDRESS - [Sovereign] Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

Psalm 146:6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever,

Hezekiah in Isa 37:16 addressed God: "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

RECITATION OF THE REVEALED WORD - 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.’

This Psalm 2:1 "Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed,"

APPLICATION OF THE REVEALED WORD - 27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod (KINGS OF THE EARTH), and Pontius Pilate (RULERS) with the Gentiles (NATIONS) and the people of Israel (PEOPLE), were gathered together 28 "to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.