In this episode Pastor Shine Thomas will be taking us through Acts 4:23-32.
Prayer & Praise In The Face Of Persecution | Acts 4:23-32
Important points to keep in mind:
After their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
The people who received Peter and John lift their voices and praise God in one voice. They are praising God in the face of persecution. Remember what Jesus had said with regard to persecution: Blessed are you when people hate and insult you.
In response to their release, they praised God and prayed. Important moments led them to prayer. The prayer was a spontaneous prayer.
• They raised their voices together in prayer. They had mass prayer and maybe individual prayer.
• They prayed in unity. They had no strife or competition among them.
• They prayed to God, who made the heavens and the earth. The disciples had power in prayer because they knew who they prayed to.
• Paul praised God in the same way. Acts 16:25 - About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
• They prayed in light of the Scriptures.
• The prayer had some quotations from Psalm 2.
God can even use the wicked to execute his own plan. The cross was his plan. God used Syria to discipline the northern kingdom of Israel. God even judged Syria for their arrogance after this.
• God is so sovereign that he is able to accomplish his will even by allowing people a measure of free choice, so that people have responsibility for what they do with their life. But through this God accomplishes his purpose because God foreknows what we are going to do and works everything together for His plan. That is how sovereign God is. People may do evil to us but not a hair from our head will fall without God's knowledge. God’s will will prevail over all.
They prayed for more miracles and more opportunities to preach. God will continue to stretch forth his hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through his holy servant Jesus. They were asking for more miracles like this man’ healing, so that they will have more opportunities to for public preaching.
• God answered their prayer. Acts 4:31 - 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.
Remember:
• The early church went through persecution.
• They praised God and prayed in the times of persecution.
• They were united in God. Church community emphasis.
• God gave them boldness.
• God filled them with the Holy Spirit.
"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 their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had." ~ Acts 4:31-32 (NIV)
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