Prayer that brings response 2/27/08
In the beginning of Acts Chapter 3 Peter and John heal a beggar as they are going into the temple. They then take the time to preach to those who saw or, heard about it, and let them know that it is through the power of Jesus and not their own power that this man was healed. They point to the scripture predicting Jesus death and resurrection and implore them to recognize Jesus for who he was.
At the beginning of chapter four Peter and John are arrested for preaching in the name of Jesus. They are then brought before the Sanhedrin the next day to be judged. When asked about the healing Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaimed that this good work was done in the name of Jesus. The Sanhedrin want to come up with some way to punish them but they cannot deny the fact that a miracle has taken place so they decide they must let them go. They do however threaten them by insisting that they never preach in the name of Jesus again, the punishment would most likely have been death or imprisonment. To this Peter poses the question is it better to listen to you or to God?
What a powerful message there is in verse 19. So many people today listen to the culture around them instead of God. The culture says keep your religion to yourself. What is good for you is not good for everyone. There are many ways to heaven. Who are you to judge? Why is your way the right way? I am only speaking of these texts to lead us to our text 4:23-26 but I cannot help but make this one point. Who are you listening to? Is it our culture or, is it God?
There was a man who was having some very serious financial problems. He went to his pastor and told him of all his troubles. The Pastor told him that if he would pray then God would provide for his needs. So the man went home that night and prayed “Dear Lord please let me win the lottery so that I can pay all my bills. Thank you. Amen.” So the lottery came and went and the man did not win. So he went back to his pastor to ask why God hadn’t answered his prayer. The pastor told him that you must have faith; if you have enough faith then God will always answer your prayer. So the man went home and prayed even harder. “Dear Lord Please let me win the lottery. I believe that you can hear me and that you will answer my prayer. Thank you. Amen.” The lottery again came and went and he still did not win. He went back to his pastor and asked why God had not answered his prayer. The pastor told him that if he would repent and beg God for help He would surely help him. So he went home and started praying, “Dear God forgive me of my sins, I want to live for you Lord, Lord just please...” All the sudden a loud voice came from heaven “WOULD YOU PLEASE BUY A TICKET!”
Some times God is waiting for us to take the necessary action so that He can bless us. Now buying a lottery ticket is not one of those actions, but it makes the point. Let’s take a look at our scripture. Acts 4:23-31
23 And being let go, tthey 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, uYou are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who 3by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
v‘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 wtruly against xYour holy Servant Jesus, ywhom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 zto do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants athat with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, band that signs and wonders may be done cthrough the name of dYour holy Servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, ethe place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, fand they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Prayer that leads to action by God
I. As soon as we recognize the problem we should take it to God. 23-24a
23 And being let go, tthey 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...”
How do you believe Baptist would generally react to this kind of situation today? If our pastor was to walk in and say the Supreme Court judges say if we preach in the name of Jesus we will be arrested and possibly killed. Many would probably determine right then and there that was the end of the Church going time because all Church is to them is a social club and there is no way they would risk anything for it. Some might say well let’s have a business meeting to decide what would be the best course of action in this matter. Others might say let’s go into the streets and shout Jesus name at anyone who will listen. Some people would start pointing fingers, if you hadn’t been out there trying to shove God on people then we wouldn’t be in this mess. The Church we are to follow, the Church in Acts, didn’t respond in any of these ways. The first thing they did was pray in one accord. If you want to see God act then let the Church learn to pray in one accord.
II. We must recognize God for who He and what He has done is Vs 24b-28
(“Lord, uYou are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who 3by the mouth of Your servant David have said: v‘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 togetherAgainst the LORD and against His Christ.’27 “For wtruly against xYour holy Servant Jesus, ywhom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 zto do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. )
Read this prayer that we have recorded here as an example for us today. God does not want us to pray to god. He wants us to pray to God! He is one. He is the “I am who I am.” Sometimes we forget who it is we are praying to. We serve a God who hears the prayers of His children who love Him and recognize who He is. Jesus gave us this same example, “Our Father, who is in Heaven, Hollowed be your name…” How would you feel if your child came up to you and said hey you give me a dollar? Now imagine how much more respect God demands.
Here the church is also recognizing that Jesus was crucified by these people only because it was God’s plan from the beginning of time foretold by the prophets. By acknowledging what God has done they are showing that they have faith in the work of God, and that they recognize that even though they are being threatened whatever happens will be a result of God’s plan.
III. Ask for what we need in order to glorify Him Vs 29-30
(29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants athat with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, band that signs and wonders may be done cthrough the name of dYour holy Servant Jesus.”)
So many times we ask God for things with no thought of His purposes on our minds. God is not a genie in a bottle. God does not set around hoping that someone will ask Him for something because He is so lonely or bored. God has created us for His good pleasure. When we pray we need to recognize that or health, wealth, hope, joy, and possessions, are to be used to further His kingdom. We must see God in all areas of our lives if we are to be blessed by Him. Think of your child again. If you said to your child lets go for a walk together and his response was no buy me some candy. Would you be likely to buy him the candy? I know that some parents would but that does not make them good parents, and God is a good parent. God is not fooled be people who think He is there to please them. He knows all and sees all even into the heart.
VI. God will respond to us! Vs. 31
(31 And when they had prayed, ethe place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, fand they spoke the word of God with boldness. )
There are times in the Bible when God uses a miracle of some type in order to further His cause. This was one of those times. It was not the parting of the sea, but God knew that this occurrence would help embolden this Church to speak His word. We do not expect that God is going to part the sea again, not that we doubt He could, we recognize that He used that event to fulfill a specific purpose in that time and place. The fact that He has not done so again does not mean make Him any less real. We however do not doubt that God still hears His people and He will help them in a time of need. The same holds true in this verse. We should not link the room shaking with God’s gift of the Holy Spirit. If we pray with a right heart, one dedicated to His purpose, we will receive a response. God has not changed. He is still in the business of shaking, but it is in the heart of His children that this takes place.
Are you seeking a sign? Mat. 12: 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and e adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. You may say well what about Peter and the Church were they evil? No. They were not seeking a sign, they were seeking God’s help that they may glorify Him. God chose to poor out His power in this way. Go before God with a pure heart. Seek His will. If you desire the things of God then God will give you all that you desire.
