The Key to Victory in the Church
Acts 4:23-33
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 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.
25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "’Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’
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.
28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
31 After 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.
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
Shortly after Pentecost, Peter and John went up to the Temple in Jerusalem to pray. On their way, the lame man, who was lying at the gate called “Beautiful,” asked for alms from the apostles. Peter’s classic response was, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (3:6)
Peter took him by the hand, lifted him up, and the man began leaping and praising God. It caused quite a stir and a large crowd gathered around to witness the miracle which had taken place. Peter took advantage of the occasion and preached to the people. And about 5,000 men believed in Christ (4:4).
While Peter was preaching, the rulers of the synagogue came and arrested him and John, and held them overnight. The next morning the apostles were brought before the council to defend their action. Peter answered the charges and explained that the lame man was healed through the power of Christ. The council decided privately to threaten the apostles, forbid them to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Peter’s response: He told the council that they could decide for themselves whether it would be better to listen to God or to the rulers, but he and John intended to continue to witness to what they had seen and heard, especially the Resurrection.
When the apostles were dismissed, they returned to their friends and fellow believers. That brings us to the scripture passage in Act 4 that was just read.
When you read through the Book of Acts you begin to understand that the New Testament Church went from one crisis to another—but always victoriously so ! What was the key? How did they do it? Well, I believe the answer was PRAYER! The church in the Book of Acts was a praying church. Verses 24 through verse 30 contain the record of the church’s prayer on this occasion. The remainder of the chapter cites the results that the church experienced. From these verses we can expect a praying church to experience certain things.
1. Answered Prayer
A praying church may expect God to give conclusive evidence that He has heard and answered it’s prayers. In verse 30 the church prayed that signs and wonders might be done by the name of Jesus, and God responded by “shaking” the place where they were assembled (31).
Illus.: “Answered Prayer—With Cattle” (Hewett, p.419)
Shortly after Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924, it almost came to the point of bankruptcy. All the creditors were going to foreclose at noon on a particular day. That morning they met in the president’s office for prayer that God would provide. In that prayer meeting was a man by the name of Harry Ironside. When it was his turn to pray, he said, “Lord, we know that the cattle on a thousand hills are Thine. Please sell some of them and send us the money.” While they were praying a tall Texan stepped up to the business office and said, “I just sold two carloads of cattle in Ft. Worth. I’ve been trying to make a business deal but it fell through and I feel compelled to give the money to the seminary. I don’t know if you need it or not, but here’s the check!” The secretary took the check and knowing how critical things were financially, went to the door of the prayer meeting and timidly tapped. When she finally got a response, the president took the check out of her hand. It was exactly the amount of the debt! When he looked at the name, he recognized the cattleman and turning to Dr. Ironside said, “Harry, God sold the cattle!”
So then, the first thing a praying church can expect is for God to answer prayer!
2. Spirit-Filled
Secondly, a praying church may expect the visitation and anointing of the Holy Spirit upon it’s assemblies. Look at verse 31: “And when they had prayed…they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”
The is wasn’t the first or last time that the Spirit came upon the church in this manner. So then, any praying church may expect repeated outpourings of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to our meetings in response to prayer. He comes only when He is invited and made welcome!
Illus.: “After the Prayer, the Power!”
In a magazine some time ago there appeared an article about the installation of a new organ in a New York City church. It was a rare and costly instrument. It’s many pipes were capable of pouring forth glorious melodies. However, the first Sunday it was used, the current was somehow cut off early in the service. The organist was helpless to do anything about it. A call for help was made and soon an electrician was on the scene. He made a quick investigation and saw that the problem could soon be fixed. A note was hurriedly passed to the organist: “After the prayer, the power will be on!”
You see, a church that works without prayer may have a lot of activity but it will exhibit little spiritual power. Dr. A.C. Dixon was right when he said, “When we rely on organization, we get what organization can do; when we rely on education, we get what education can do; when we rely on eloquence, we get what eloquence can do. But when we rely on prayer, we get what God can do!”
3. Powerful Preaching
In the third place, a praying church may expect the Word of God to be preached and taught with authority, boldness, and power. Look at verse 29: “…grant to your servants that with all boldness that they may speak Your Word.”
They didn’t skirt the issues. They stayed on the Bible! They didn’t get off into philosophical arguments or theological controversies or political issues. They stayed with the Word of God. A praying church should expect the Word of God to have the preeminence in it’s pulpits and classrooms.
It has been said that preachers make churches. But I also believe that churches make preachers—by their praying, support, and love.
4. Soul-Winning
A praying church may expect to be a soul-winning church. Verse 32 indicates that after the early church had prayed a “multitude of people” believed the gospel and their lives were changed forever. Prayer was the key! Any church whose members will unite their prayers and “lift up their voices to God with one accord” on behalf of lost souls may expect that God will hear and answer and give them souls.
Illus.: “He Was Waiting for Someone to Come”
Several years ago, we had some teams that were going out calling on a certain night of the week. As they were passing a home, they sensed the Lord telling them to knock on the door. They did and were excited to hear that the man who answered the door said that he had been waiting, even hoping for someone would come and speak to him about God. They shared the plan of salvation with him and he received Christ as his Savior.
One of the principles that is taught in any effective outreach program is that the church had better not send anyone else unless they cover that team (s) with prayer.
5. Unity
Verse 32 says that the multitude of those that believed “were of one heart and one soul.” Nothing can unite people like praying together for each other—bearing each other’s burdens, holding each other up to the throne of grace. This is what Jesus prayed for on the night before His crucifixion: “Father, sanctify them, that they might be one even as we are one; You in me and I in them, that they might be perfect in one.”
A united church is not happenstance; it is the product of lifting up our voices with one accord.
6. Generosity
Look at verse 32 again: “…no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common.” In other words, everything they owned was consecrate to God. He was the owner. They were the stewards.
Prayer does something to our hearts. We can’t be the same. It sensitizes us to the needs of others in our family!
Illus.: “Evelyn’s Many Gifts”
An elderly lady in one of my congregation’s paid a visit to me one day and told me that God had been good to her. She wanted to express her gratitude to Him by helping others. “Pastor,” she said, “if you know of someone who is need of some financial assistance, please let me know and I will do what I can to help. The only condition is that no one is to know who the donor is, except you.” I heartily agreed with her request and called upon her often.
2 Cor 8:1-3
1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,
7. Powerful Influence
A praying church mal also expect to exert a powerful influence in the community it serves. Ver 33 says, “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.”
What would Cedar Rapids be like if all the churches were closed for good next week? What would it be like if the churches stopped praying? Would not Satan’s influence explode?
Illus.: “Moody’s Barroom Meeting”
D.L. Moody once entered a tavern in order to ask the bartender if his two little girls might attend his Sunday School. He was told that an atheist club met there every Thursday night and the owner of the bar was in no mood to offend them. Moody looked into the face of this man and pleaded with him on behalf of his girls. Finally the man’s heart was touched and he said, “Preacher, I’ll tell you what I’ll do. If you’ll come down here Thursday night and meet with the boys in a joint discussion, and win, you shall have the children. But if not, its all off!” “Agreed,” said Moody. Moody went right out and looked up a crippled newsboy who really knew how to pray and said to him, “Tommy, I need you next Thursday night!” When the hour of the meeting arrived, Tommy and the evangelist entered the saloon. It was full of men sitting on whiskey barrels, beer kegs, and even on the bar—eagerly awaiting the coming debate. Moody began by saying, "Gentlemen, its our custom to open our meeting with prayer. Tommy, jump up on that barrel and lead us in prayer.” Tommy began to beseech the Lord for the souls of all present. As the tears began to roll down the little fellow’s cheeks, the more tenderhearted of the men beat a retreat. Finally, even the hardest men present began to leave until there was no one left except the bartender, Moody and the praying boy. Moody turned to the father and said, “I claim your girls for my Sunday school!” The bartender answered, “All right, you win. But it’s a queer way to fight!” And Moody answered, “It’s the way I win many a battle.”
8. Great Grace
Finally, a praying church may expect grace to be upon all its people. Look at verse 33: “…and much grace was upon them all.”
Grace means blessings, favor, delight. God loves a praying people and will shower upon them His special gifts.
No wonder the New Testament church grew. They were a praying people! Can’t we be the same? What a force for God and for good we could be. May God help us to be truly a “praying people.”
Now, its not as if we don’t pray in Living Hope. Of course we do. For example…
Begin our service with it
Pastoral prayer
Benediction
During our Sunday school
Grace at our church meals
Home church gatherings
Prayer chain
New offerings:
- Pastor’s Support Prayer Team, 8:45 a.m. on Sundays
- Prayer service at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays
- 40 days of prayer and fasting (in your own home)
If you’re not involved in one of more of these opportunities, I challenge you to begin today!
