An Acts 2 Church - Praying

An Acts 2 Church - Praying Acts 2:42 One priority of the early church was prayer. They were devoted to sound teaching, fellowship, worship, and prayer. What can we learn from them to help our prayer life? I We Need to Commit Ourselves to Prayer A They Were Devoted to Prayers - Acts 2:42 1 This is a general word used of any prayer to God or a god, or for a place of prayer. 2 The word is plural, meaning prayers of all types. A Petition - Asking God for something B Intercession - Petition on behalf of someone other than yourself C Confession and repentance - Seeking forgiveness for one's sins D Thanksgiving and praise - Giving God glory and worship E Submission - Surrendering oneself to God's will F Fellowship - Living in intimate relationship with God 3 Prayer is ... A The means to receive all God has for you by asking in faith B The way to bring His resources and victory to another person or group C Our access to the throne of grace to receive forgiveness of our sins D Our outlet to express our gratitude and praise directly to God E The path to submission of all our being to His will F The secret place of fellowship with our God B Why Do We Need to Devote Ourselves to Prayer 1 Our flesh will always prefer to do less spiritual things than prayer. 2 We are enticed and pressured by the world to go in other directions with our time. 3 The devil works to tempt, accuse, or distract us to keep us from finding victory in prayer. 4 We must choose to devote ourselves to prayer if we are to have an effective prayer life. II Pentecost and Prayer A We Receive the Holy Spirit Through Prayer 1 The Father gives the Spirit to those who ask. - Luke 11:9-13 2 As believers waited for Pentecost, they were devoted to prayer. Acts 1:14 (same verb as 2:42) 3 Peter and John later prayed that the Samaritans would receive. - Acts 8:14-17 4 Let us ... A Ask the Father for His promised gift of the Spirit B Ask for faith to receive and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit C Pray that others would receive the Holy Spirit B Once We Receive, Let Us Pray in the Spirit 1 Prayer in the Spirit ... A Is prayer in a tongue, a language I do not know - 1 Cor. 14:14-15 B Is prayer with my spirit enabled by the Holy Spirit - Acts 2:4 2 We build ourselves up as we pray in the Spirit - 1 Cor. 14:4a; Jude 20 3 We are to continually pray in the Spirit - Ephesians 6:18 4 The Spirit enables us to pray beyond our understanding - Romans 8:26-27 5 So we should continue to pray in the Spirit! III Lessons on Prayer from the New Testament Church A Make Prayer a Priority 1 The whole church was devoted to prayer. - Acts 2:42 2 They were joined together in devotion to prayer. - Acts 1:14 3 Leadership saw prayer as their ministry priority. - Acts 6:4 4 Each of us should make prayer a priority. B Find Regular Times and Places to Pray 1 They had a time of prayer (perhaps more than one and at a fixed place) - Acts 3:1 2 They would have a place of prayer (a regular time is implied) - Acts 16:16 3 We should pray anywhere and at any time - "Pray continually" (1 Thess 5:17) 4 But to pray consistently, one needs a regular place and regular times. C Make Prayer Your First Response in Crisis 1 When the church was threatened - Acts 4:23-24 2 When life was at stake - Acts 12:1-5 3 When suffering persecution - Acts 16:22-25 D Make Fasting Part of Your Overall Prayer Life 1 They worshiped with fasting. - Acts 13:2 2 They prayed with fasting before commissioning missionaries. - Acts 13:3 3 They prayed with fasting when appointing local leaders. - Acts 14:23 4 Fasting was not mentioned in crises, but in connection with worship, outreach, and organization 5 Keep a balance. Neither over-value nor neglect fasting. So, let us commit ourselves to prayer, both as individuals and as a church. Make prayer a top priority. Set a time and place and be consistent, but also pray continually. When a crisis comes, pray immediately. Include some fasting in your prayer life. Be filled with the Spirit and then pray in the Spirit. Prayer does not just happen. We must choose to pray. We must commit to a life of prayer. Let us pray!