Following Jesus requires action! We see that action in two ways:
• The context is evangelism (sharing our faith with others);
• Last week you probably noted that
• Peter and John stood before the Sanhedrin (Jewish court);
• Their crime verse 2 tells us was: “Teaching and preaching about the risen Christ”.
• And they are ordered to be silent.
• Their crime was telling other people about Jesus!
• And in verse 31 at the end of today’s passage, we read:
• “Filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God boldly!
Note:
• Worth noting that throughout the book of Acts when anyone was filled with the Spirit;
• It lead to them evangelising (telling others about Jesus)
• Ill: Have you ever had a picnic or B-B-Q and watched;
• A black ant crawl up a table leg until it reached some spilled sugar.
• It seemed to eat, then crawled back down the table leg.
• Soon the two black ants crawled up the table leg to the sugar.
• They ate and left. Soon a steady steam of black ants;
• Moved up and down the table leg to enjoy the sugar.
• Point being that they must have some system by which they communicate,
• 'I have found something good and I want to share it!'
NOW WE PICK UP THE STORY IN VERSE 24:
• Then Sanhedrin decides to releases them.
• And they immediately go back to the other Christians and start to pray.
Ill:
• In one region of Africa,
• The first converts to Christianity were very diligent about praying.
• In fact, the believers each had their own special place;
• Outside the village where they went to pray in solitude.
• The villagers reached these “prayer rooms”
• By using their own private footpaths through the brush.
• When grass began to grow over one of these trails,
• It was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much.
• Because these new Christians were concerned for each other’s spiritual welfare,
• A unique custom sprang up.
• When ever anyone noticed an overgrown “Prayer path,”
• He or she would go to the person and lovingly warn, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!”
Question: Do you find it easy to pray?
Answer: If the answer is no, then you are in good company!
• The wartime theologian and writer Dietrich Bonhoeffer, for example,
• Once admitted that his prayer experience was; “Something to be ashamed of”.
• The Great reformer, Martin Luther, anguished in prayer,
• Saving three of the best hours of the day to pray; yet he seldom seemed satisfied.
Go down through the list of Christian greats, we find one after another working hard at prayer,
• But frequently you will find they were dissatisfied,
• Some of them even woefully unhappy about their prayer life.
• E. M. Bounds, Alexander Maclaren, Samuel Rutherford, Hudson Taylor,
• John Henry Jowett, G. Campbell Morgan, Joseph Parker, Charles Haddon Spurgeon,
• F. B. Meyer, A. W. Tozer, H. A. Ironside, Billy Graham,
• Great men, strong Christian examples,
• Magnificent role models,
• Yet you can hardly find one of that number who was satisfied with his prayer life.
• Oh, they laboured in prayer, they believed in prayer, they taught and preached prayer;
• But they were all strugglers, who had to work hard at it!
• So if you struggle when it comes to prayer;
• Then you are in good company!
We have recorded in these verses some insights to help us pray better:
(1). They Prayed primarily (verse 23)
Notice: What it says in verse 23: "On their release."
• Peter & John were so thankful for being delivered from the Sanhedrin.
• That they immediately went back and reported what had happened to the others.
• And after they had told them what had happened,
• An impromptu prayer meeting was held to give praise and thanks to God.
ill:
The early Christians prayed.
• Almost every thing in the book of Acts begins and ends with prayer.
• In fact the phrase "they prayed" appears 48 times in the book of ACTS.
• The early believers recognized prayer as fundamental!
• Everything they did was bathed in prayer.
Ill:
• Surprised to see an empty seat at yesterdays Cup Final;
• A diehard fan remarked about it to a woman sitting nearby.
• The woman then explained; “It was my husband’s, but he died.”
• “I’m very sorry,” said the man.
• “Yet I’m really surprised that another relative, or friend,
• Didn’t jump at the chance to take the seat reserved for him.”
• “Beats me too,” she said.
• “But they all insisted on going to the funeral.”
The early Christians recognized prayer as a priority!
• Everything they did was bathed in prayer;
• Remember that the two main leaders in the Church had just been told to shut up!
• They were forbidden to publicly share this message of Christ.
• Don’t forget it was the Sanhedrin (Jewish Council) who passed this ruling.
• This was the same council that were (humanly) responsible for the death of Jesus Christ.
• It was not a wise move to disobey them! ill: name for those who did ‘Victim’.
When you are in a tricky, dangerous, even life-threatening situation:
• It is good to pray!
• These Christians needed wisdom, courage and guidance as to what to do next.
• So they prayed!
• A good principle to follow.
(2). They Prayed collectively (verse 24)
• Notice it was a united prayer meeting as they;
• N.I.V.: “They raised their voices together in prayer to God.”
• K.J.B.: "Lifted up their voice to God with one accord".
• Message: “Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer”.
• The people were of one heart and mind,
• And God was pleased to answer their requests:
• Division in the church will always hinders prayer and robs the church of spiritual power.
• But unity brings blessing and power.
Ill:
• In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels,
• Threatening him with her fist if he didn’t.
• “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus.
• “These five fingers,” says Lucy.
• “Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit,
• They form a weapon that is terrible to behold.”
• Linus responds: “Which channel do you want?”
• Then turning away,
• He looks at his fingers and says,
• “Why can’t you guys get organized like that?”
• God wants his people to be ‘organised’ into fellowships;
• That are characterised by prayer!
Ill:
In the 1800’s five young college students were spending a Sunday in London,
• So they went to hear the famed preacher C. H. Spurgeon preach.
• While waiting for the doors to open,
• The students were greeted by a man who asked, “Gentlemen, let me show you around.
• Would you like to see the heating plant of this church?”
• They were not particularly interested, for it was a hot day in July.
• But they didn’t want to offend the stranger, so they consented.
• The young men were taken down a stairway, a door was quietly opened,
• And their guide whispered, “This is our heating plant.”
• Surprised, the students saw 700 people bowed in prayer,
• Seeking a blessing on the service that was soon to begin in the auditorium above.
• Softly closing the door, the gentleman then introduced himself.
• It was none other than Charles Haddon Spurgeon himself!
• Like Spurgeon these early Christians knew that there was power in prayer!
• And so with one heart and mind they enthusiastically prayed together!
Personal:
• Question: Do you pray for the preachers who fill this pulpit week by week?
• Answer: If not, why not! You can make a difference to what is said and shared!
(3). They prayed confidently (verse 24&28)
“When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them”.
THESE CHRISTIANS SAW GOD FROM THREE DIMENSIONS:
(1st). He is the God of creation (verse 24)
"Sovereign Lord," they said,
"You made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.”
(2). He is the God of revelation (verse 25).
“You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:”
(3). He is the God of history (verse 27).
“Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed”
• The Jewish leaders & people, the Roman soldiers;
• Might have believed that the death of Jesus was there idea & decision.
• But they were only part players in a much bigger plan;
• One that Acts chapter 2 verse 23 tells us was preordained before the world began!
The prayer can be summarized by three verbs:
• Verse 24: “You made”.
• Verse 25: “You spoke”.
• Verse 28: “You decided”.
These Christians prayed confidently, because their God was the "Sovereign Lord,"
• The God who is in control of all things.
• A God who shapes the destinies of his people.
Ill:
• You might be surprised to know that we get our English word ‘despot’.
• From the word that is used in the original Greek language;
• A despot is one who exercises absolute power,
• Either benevolently or abusively. God is a benevolent despot!
These early Christians may have been warned & threatened buy the Sanhedrin;
• In Israel the Sanhedrin may have been the people to fear and comply with.
• But these Christians were joined to a greater more powerful authority – God himself!
Ill:
The great reformer Martin Luther was once threatened by the Pope’s representative;
• He warned him what would happen;
• And what he would do, if Luther persisted in his course of actions.
• He warned him that in the end he would be deserted by all his supporters;
• “Where will you be then?” demanded the envoy.
• “Then as now” Luther replied;
• “In the hands of God!”
• For the Christian,
• There is no better place to be than in the will of a sovereign God!
Quote: C.H. Spurgeon:
“There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s sovereignty.
Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them all.
There is nothing for which the children ought to more earnestly contend to than the doctrine of their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that throne...for it is God upon the Throne whom we trust.”
Notice what the disciples prayed for:
• They did not pray to have their circumstances changed;
• Or ask God to put their enemies (Sanhedrin) out of office.
• They did not even pray for a quiet life.
• Rather, they asked God to empower them to make the best use of their circumstances;
Ill: verse 28 is so good!
“They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”
• Peter & John had faith in the Lord of history:
• Who has a perfect plan for his people the Church and for his world.
Ill:
• As we read through the book of Acts we soon discover that:
• That plan would mean persecution for some of these believers;
• It would mean imprisonment for others.
• And for many (including the Apostles) it would mean martyrdom.
• But these Christians did not pray for escape, instead they asked for divine enablement.
• And God heard their prayer and gave them the power that they needed.
Quote: Phillips Brooks:
• "Do not pray for easy lives. Instead pray to be stronger men and women.
• Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. But pray for powers equal to your tasks."
• That is the way the early Christians prayed,
• And that is the way God's people should pray today.
(4). They prayed biblically (verse 25-26)
• As they prayed they quoted the Word of God, in this case, Psalm 2.
• Psalm 2 describes the revolt of the nations against the Lord and His Christ.
• The psalm originally grew out of the crowning of a new king in Israel,
• Perhaps David or Solomon;
• But it is a Messianic Psalm;
• It’s ultimate message points to the King of kings, Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament times:
• Whenever a new king was enthroned,
• The lesser rulers around were required to come and submit to him;
• There were always some who saw themselves as more powerful that they actually were;
• And would refused to do this.
• So a new King would flex his muscles and put them in their place;
• And all would know who was the ultimate power!
In Psalm 2 God uses this earthly picture as a representation of mankind and Jesus.
• People might rebel and reject the rule and the claims of God over them.
• But God is not worried, in fact he laughs at their revolt,
• For He knew that they could never stand up against His King.
• Men may seem to win the battle but God will always win the war!
Now: The early Christians applied the message of this psalm to their own situation:
• They identified their adversaries (verse 27) as Herod, Pilate, the Romans, and the Jews.
• These enemies had "ganged up" against Jesus Christ and even crucified Him,
• Yet God was not defeated;
• Because he has raised Him from the dead and enthroned Him in heaven.
• And one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess;
• “That Jesus Christ is Lord”.
The early Christians prayed in the light of the word of God:
• For them there was no need to fear.
• They strongly believed in God's sovereignty & His perfect plan for them, His people.
Question: Do you believe that God has a plan for your life?
Ill:
A minister received a phone call from a church offering him a new job in the Bahamas!
• Not only that;
• They were willing to give him a salary of four times what he was then receiving.
• Being a devout man, he went into his study to pray about this move;
• Trying to discern God’s will, what the Lord would have him to do.
• Ten minutes after the phone call a salesman came calling
• Knocked on the door and waited.
• The ministers son opened the door.
• And the salesman said: “Is your dad in?”
• The son replied; “No! Dad’s busy praying”.
• “Well can I speak to your mum?”
• “No!” replied the son;
• “She is busy packing”.
If we truly want to know the will and plan of God for our lives:
• Let’s remember;
• That the Word of God and prayer should always go together.
• In His Word, the Bible;
• God speaks to us and tells us what He wants to do.
• In prayer,
• We speak to Him and make ourselves available to accomplish His will.
• True prayer is not telling God what to do,
• But asking God to do His will in us and through us.
• It means getting God's will done on earth,
• Not man's will done in heaven.
Ill:
A missionary magazine printed this short notice.
“The former director general of …particular magazine… was standing down, was retiring. He will now continue to serve the Lord in an advisory capacity”.
• We must become a listening people;
• Waiting on God as well as informing God.
(5). They prayed expectantly (verse 30-31)
These Christians asked God to:
“Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
These Christians were positive when they prayed:
• They expected something to happen;
• They expected God to do something!
Ill:
• A couple have twin sons, one an incurable optimist, one a pessimist.
• The parents decide to try and even things out for their birthday.
• They give the pessimist a very expensive combined TV and DVD player;
• When he unwraps it he complains;
• “With the price of DVD’s I’ll never be able to afford any!”
• The optimist receives just a bag of horse manure.
• When he unwraps it, he leaps in the air with joy, screaming;
• “There’s a pony on the way!”
Quote:
“Twixt optimist and pessimist
the difference is droll:
The optimist sees the doughnut,
The pessimist sees the hole!”
These Christians were positive when they prayed:
• They expected something to happen;
• They expected God to do something!
(1). A request:
Their request is threefold:
• (1). Verse 29: That God will be mindful of their situation.
• (2). Verse 29: That God would preach with courage.
• (3). Verse 30: That God would be at work visibly in their situation.
Quote: Alexander pointed out:
“Their demand is not now for miracles of vengeance or destruction, such as fire from heaven, but for miracles of mercy”
Note:
• It is significant that two out of the three things mentioned are to do with evangelism.
• Which is the one thing they have just been ordered by law not to do!
• But these people have a consuming passion for evangelism;
• Evangelism was the very last thing Jesus had asked them to do and they wanted to do it!
Personal:
• Remind you that, that request of Jesus still stands today!
• All called to ‘be witnesses (Acts chapter 1 verse 8).
• Question: When did you last witness to someone?
• Question: When did you last share your testimony to someone?
• Question: When did you last invite someone along to a Christian event?
• Question: When did you last pass on a tract or magazine or video etc?
(2). An answer (vs 31):
• This prayer is the longest prayer recorded in the book of Acts;
• It is a good example prayer especially in a time of crisis.
• The prayer ends not with a ‘Amen’.
• That is a human approval (although I am confident they gave that).
• The biblical record of the prayer ends with God’s seal of approval:
• Telling us that God did indeed grant their request.
• God shook the place where they were meeting;
• And once again filled the people with his Holy Spirit.
• This filling of the Spirit gave them the boldness that they needed;
• To continue to serve God in spite of official opposition.
