From Acts to Revelation - Part 10: Prayer for Boldness

From Acts to Revelation

Part 10 – Prayer for Boldness

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

Last week we talked about Peter and John and how the religious leaders begin to struggle with control, and acting in fear of losing this control.

We read of how they tried to put a stop to Peter and John preaching and teaching about Jesus and the resurrection.

After Peter and John were taken prisoner, and threatened to stop preaching and teaching things in the name of Jesus, they were released.

We will now read about how they returned to the others, and prayed.

While we read today’s scriptures, and talk about them, think to yourselves about how you may have lost strength to speak the word of god at some opportunity in your life, and watch how the Apostles deal with the very same weakness...and you will see the answer to the problem is as simple as a prayer to the Lord for strength.

 

SCRIPTURE READING

Acts 4:23-31

 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.

I.       RETURNING TO THEIR OWN PEOPLE

1.      After peter and John were threatened by the chief priests and elders, they returned to “their own people.”

1.      They were no longer 'under arrest', and returned to the others.

2.      And they reported everything that the priests and elders said to them.

1.      This represents the first account of opposition against the early church.

2.      It did not take long for this to happen.

3.      They then decided how to respond to the threat they now faced for preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus.

1.      They all began to pray.

II.    PRAYER TO THE SOVEREIGN LORD

1.      They first acknowledged that the Lord had prophesied this when David said through the Holy Spirit; “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?  2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together 
against the LORD and against his Anointed One.” in Psalm 2:1,2

1.      This is used by the Holy Spirit to refer to these religious leaders concerning Jesus. This proclaims the fact that the Messiah is the person spoken of in the second psalm.

2.      This psalm speaks of all the opposition against Christ from the very beginning, but more particularly speaks of the coming antichrist.

2.      The scriptures tell us that this was fulfilled with Herod, and Pontius Pilate meeting with gentiles (Romans) and the people of Israel to conspire against Jesus. The Holy One that God anointed.

1.      Jesus is the fulfillment of all prophecies, the Son of God, the incarnate One, the Savior of men.

2.      They all gathered together for the purpose of crucifying Christ.

3.      When they did this against Christ, they fulfilled God's power and will, His predestination for Jesus to be the Christ and savior of mankind.

1.      Verse 28 speaks of predestination of Christ. His death on Calvary’s Cross, and his resurrection from the dead; but again, those who were to Crucify Him were not determined by God; they did this cruel deed by their own choice.

III. THEIR PRAYER REQUEST

1.      After exclaiming God's complete reign, and complete control over the destiny of Jesus Christ through God's will, power and predestination, they ask God for their request.

1.      They do not pray for God's enemies to be destroyed, or or armies of angels to come down from heaven, or even for those who persecute them to fall at their feet.

2.      They turn over the rulers, and the others to the Lord, in order that He would handle the situation.

2.      They ask God to give them the strength to speak the Word of God in boldness in the face of the threats.

1.      This is the opposite of that determined by the religious leaders of Israel.

3.      They then ask for God to stretch out His hand.

1.       To heal, perform miracles, signs and wonders in Jesus' name, which would show the authority of the Apostles to teach such things in the name of Jesus, and as a sign to all that they represented God and the teaching and preaching of the New Covenant which was made in the blood of Jesus Christ.

2.      Many speak of the power of God, but not so many of Jesus Christ.

3.      All healing, all miracles, all signs, all wonders, are done in the name of Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION

The results of this prayer were immediate, and we see the scriptures say that the place where they were praying shook, and they were filled (AGAIN) with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the Word of God boldly!

The place where they prayed literally shook from the power of God. They were filled again by the Holy Spirit...we must pray for continual filling, leading and guiding of God's Holy Spirit. We see God answer their prayer, giving them more boldness, and they did not hesitate to speak accordingly.

This is what we need today, and could have, if we prayed for it!