Praying For A Change of Heart
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Praying For A Change of Heart
23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said.
24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—
25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans?
26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’
27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed.
28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.
29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.
30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
INTRODUCTION:
A-
I- REALIZE THAT PRAYER IS PRIMARY. (Acts 4:23-24a)
I- REALIZE THAT PRAYER IS PRIMARY. (Acts 4:23-24a)
23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said.
24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—
A- Reacting in the flesh should never be considered as an option.
A- Reacting in the flesh should never be considered as an option.
1- The natural (fleshly) response to what the apostles had just experienced would have been fear or anger.
a. Instead, the apostles sought out the company of other committed Christ-followers.
b. They realized that this event of persecution was about an issue far bigger than them individually.
2- Reacting in fleshly emotions never produces godly results.
(Galatians 5:19-21)
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
(James 1:20)
20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
B- The first response to need should always be prayer.
B- The first response to need should always be prayer.
1- The first response of the early believers was to pray.
a. Upon hearing the report of the apostles, the believers united in prayer.
ὁμοθυμαδόν: pertaining to mutual consent or agreement—‘with one mind, by common consent, unanimously.’
Like they did in Acts 1:14.
14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
b. The early disciples got down-to-business in praying to God.
“ἦραν φωνὴν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν” - “They lifted their voices up to God.”
God rewards those who truly seek Him
(Matthew 7:7)
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
II- RECOGNIZE THE AWESOME POWER OF GOD (Acts 4:24 b- 30)
II- RECOGNIZE THE AWESOME POWER OF GOD (Acts 4:24 b- 30)
24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—
25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans?
26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’
27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed.
28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.
29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.
30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
A- God is the one who rules. (Acts 4:24 b)
A- God is the one who rules. (Acts 4:24 b)
24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—
B- God is the creator of all. (Acts 4:24 c)
B- God is the creator of all. (Acts 4:24 c)
24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—
(Colossians 1:16-17)
16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
C- God is the author of scripture. (Acts 4:24 d - 27)
C- God is the author of scripture. (Acts 4:24 d - 27)
24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—
25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans?
26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’
27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed.
(2 Timothy 3:16)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
D- God is the Lord of history. (Acts 4:28)
D- God is the Lord of history. (Acts 4:28)
28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.
1- There is nothing in this universe that is out of his control!
a. God revealed the future kingdoms to the Prophet Daniel.
E- God is the source of supply for whatever we need. (Acts 4:29-30)
29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.
30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
1- God has not limited what He will do- we limit Him by not asking! (James 4:2)
“ You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.”
III- RECEPTIVE TO GOD’S POWER AND DIRECTION. (Acts 4:31)
III- RECEPTIVE TO GOD’S POWER AND DIRECTION. (Acts 4:31)
31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
A- We must be ready to accept a fresh flow of God’s power. (Acts 4:31 a)
A- We must be ready to accept a fresh flow of God’s power. (Acts 4:31 a)
31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
1- Fresh power filled the believers in response to their specific prayers!
2- God shook the place with His presence!
3- God will respond to the earnest seeking of His people!
4- God responded to the earnest seeking of God’s people at CBC in BR.
B- We must be ready to follow God’s direction in His power. (Acts 4:31 b)
B- We must be ready to follow God’s direction in His power. (Acts 4:31 b)
31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
1- The believers followed the leadership of God in proclaiming His Word.
2- You and I must be willing to employ the power of God to do the work of God.
CONCLUSION: