Acts 4:23-33, Tells of a Church That Was a Flame of Fire

The church was growing. [Acts 2:47: Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved].

They were a persecuted church, but they had the power of God upon them. That made them a mighty weapon. We have that power available to us. Jesus is the only way to be saved. [Acts 4:12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved].

That they had been with Jesus: [Acts 4:12-13: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus].

We need to pray with faith--believing.

What the early church had and what we need:

1) Prayer: This was a praying church. God honored their prayers. [Acts 12:5: Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him]. To be a powerful church we need to be a praying church.

2) Love: It was a loving church. They loved each other. [John 13:35: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Acts 4:32: And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common]. They were all with one accord--of one heart and of one soul. [Acts 5:12: And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch].

3) Preaching: They turned the world upside down. They preached the Gospel. We can all tell people about the Gospel. [Acts 17:6: And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also].

They spoke the Word of God with boldness. [Acts 4:31: And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness].