When They Had Prayed

"When They Had Prayed!" Acts 4:23-31 INTRO. Prayer is a vital part of a healthy Christian's growth and life for Christ. It is our pipeline to the promises and purposes of God. Jesus said, concerning prayer in Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." In his book, "The Crises of The Christ" Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, points out that our Savior endured 7 major crises in His life. At each of these crises, we see our LORD in prayer. Christ's disciples were so impressed by the LORD'S prayer life, that they pleaded with Him, "teach us to pray." Prayer is the Christian's most dangerous weapon against the forces of evil, if offered correctly. Prayer can save the sick, convict the sinner, and rescue the wanderer. Anything we set out to do must, for it to meet with success, be preceded by prayer to God. This means we should be praying at all times. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 encourages us to, "Pray without ceasing." In other words, we must always be in the attitude of prayer. Philippians 4:6 declares, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." The key phrase in that verse is—“In everything by prayer and supplication...” I'd like to title the message tonight, "When They had Prayed!" In our text Acts 4, Peter and John had been in custody of the Sanhedrin for the teaching and preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Oh, that today we would see more of the boldness of Peter and John; for after being commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, they answered, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20). After the council had further threatened them, they let them go. Peter and John went to the place where the Church had assembled and told them what the chief priests and elders had said to them. After glorifying God with one accord, they all began to pray. I want you to notice what happens, for this is the key to the message tonight-What happens when we pray! Someone has said, "Prayer is the soul's sincere desire unuttered or expressed; the motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast." NOTICE WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED: (1) The Place Was Shaken Where They Assembled Together Text: Acts 4:31a—“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled…” *THE SHAKING WAS EVIDENCE OF: A. The Power Of God. A. The Presence of God.

*TO the Jews, a shaking of the earth-an earthquake- was proof of the presence and power of God. In Isaiah 29:6 we read, "Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire." --Isaiah 6--When Isaiah saw the vision of the LORD --Acts 16:26--When Paul and Silas were in prison, God sent an earthquake --Habakkuk 3--When Habakkuk prayed for revival for the people, God sent an earthquake (2) They Were All Filled With The Holy Spirit Text: Acts 4:31b—“And when they had prayed…they were all filled with the Holy Ghost..” A. THE SPIRIT EMPOWERED THEM (Acts 1:8). Ephesians 5:18--"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." B. THE SPIRIT ENCOURAGED THEM. We need the encouragement of God’s Spirit if we ever will be bold in our witness for Christ or consistent in our walk for Christ. Galatians 5:16--"Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." Galatians 5:26--"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (3) They Spoke The Word Of God With Boldness Text: Acts 4:31c—“And when they had prayed…they spake the word of God with boldness.” A. THEY SPOKE WITH COURAGE NOT COWARDICE (Acts 4:19-20). B. THEY SPOKE WITH CONVICTION NOT COMPROMISE (Romans 1:16). We need more who will say that they are not ashamed of the Gospel! CLOSING: Prayer is the life or death of a Church and it ministry. We must pray! When it seems hardest to pray, then we should pray the hardest! Jesus said, "…Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." (Luke 18:1b). The success of the early Church was its prayer life. The great accomplishments of the Church were accomplished by faithful, believing prayer! The great revivals seen in hits country and others in the late 17 to early 1800's were due to fervent intercession to God. It can happen here also, if we will only be men and women of prayer. What about you? Are you faithful in prayer? God can and will do great things, if only we will ask! Will you Pray? God desires His children to ask and receive!