Bentley Baptist Church Sermons
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Bentley Baptist Church Sermons
Finding Your Voice in Powerful, Bold Prayer
Acts 4.23-31 | Ps Alex Huggett | 22.9.2024
Part of a series on the book of Acts
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So when I was a younger man, my pastor who was mentoring me then commented that I didn't pray much out loud in our gathered prayer meetings, particularly probably in our deacons meetings, where I was sitting in. Now I made some lame excuse, but the reality was, like so many Christians, I just wasn't comfortable praying. I don't know whether it was a lack of intimacy with God or I don't remember, but you know what I see many Christians who I could say the same thing about Don't see you praying much when we're praying together. Well, sometimes we struggle with prayer because we lack intimacy with God, but sometimes we also pray because we're not actually sure how to pray. I mean, yeah, and then maybe we feel a bit tongue-tied and self-conscious. But you know, today we're looking at one of the most powerful prayers in the Bible and I think we can learn a lot about prayer and how to power up our own prayers through this. Now, as context, as we saw, peter and John have just been released after they were arrested for preaching the gospel and healing someone. The church had been enjoying a time of growth and favor after Pentecost, but now just the first signs of persecution are starting to emerge. And so how do they respond. Well, after being released, peter and John immediately headed back to their own people, as just about all the translations put it, which I find fascinating.
Speaker 1:In these early days of the Jesus movement. It was considered a part of Israel. It was just sort of a subsection of what we now call Judaism. But even at this very early stage the disciples started developing their own identity as a Jesus-centered community, which is no surprise, given Jesus' teaching in his own doing that. But it raises the question when things get tough, where do we go? Who are your people? Who's your tribe? Where do you go when things get tough? You know, we find solace or identity in all kinds of groups. Of course, in an ideal world, our family and a few close friends are our people. But we're not always in an ideal world, are we? Sometimes we find our people in a shared interest group or sports club. Oh, they sort of get us because we share common interests. Well, that can be a little bit superficial, but real. Maybe some people find their people online. For some people the options become a bit darker, don't they? A bit harder and perhaps not the healthiest our people. But sometimes people are just alone.
Speaker 1:You know, when Jesus prayed for the unity of his church. At the end of John's gospel we read that he was praying that we would identify with his church as our people. It's not always easy being part of a people, is it? We are a messy lot, but you know what? There's nowhere like even a halfway functional community of Jesus followers, and what we'll see probably next week is the picture of a community that is living the ideal of being a Jesus people. We will read that there was no needy person among them. You know, when we're doing Jesus the way Jesus intends, he takes community. He takes being a people to a whole new level, and isn't that what we aspire to as a church? You know, I think we have something special here at Bentley, but we want to be a community where we can say from our hearts that's my people, I'm part of that church. So what does it take to do that? To be that? I'll leave that hanging.
Speaker 1:Well, peter and John report back to their people the threats that other people have just made. And what's their response? They pray. Now most English Bibles say they raised their voices plural. But you know, the Greek is actually singular. It just says they raised their voice. They were a people who prayed in unity, as one voice, with one heart and one mind, and, as we'll see, that heart and mind is the heart and mind of Jesus. And then we see this literally earth-breaking prayer. So what makes it so powerful? Well, let's break this down. The first thing they do is declare who God is Devin. Could we throw those verses back up on the screen there? Thank you, they declare who God is. I think yeah. Would you mind going back to the first slide? Thank you, okay, we'll get there. Thank you. He's their master and the creator of heaven and earth.
Speaker 1:Now I find this interesting that they pray to God as master when Jesus taught us to pray our father. So what's going on? Well, god is both, of course, but here they're leaning into their relationship as God's representatives. Jesus commissioned them to go to the world and they approach God as the sovereign, all-powerful ruler over that world, that God who they represent. You know God has many titles in the Bible. Each one highlights different aspects of his character and his relationship with us in the Bible, each one highlights different aspects of his character and his relationship with us in the world Creator, can you think of others? Sustainer, healer, banner, sort of our flag, many, many others. And when we approach God in prayer, we can use those titles to frame our prayer, to encourage ourselves and to speak to the issues that we're praying about. But in this case, they remember that God is sovereign, he's the master, he's their master and he's master over the world. Then, having confessed God's character, they go to God's word and in this case they go to Psalm 2.
Speaker 1:Now, psalm 2 is what we call a messianic psalm. It's a psalm about God's then coming Messiah, and of course we recognize that it's being fulfilled in Jesus. And so they begin why do the nations rage? Why do the nations rage when we ask why? We can ask it two ways. The first way is not what they mean. We can ask why? Why is a pity party? Why is this happening to me, god? Why are the people opposing us? Why do they rage? That's not what they're doing here. I think it's more like what do you think you're doing? Because this psalm they just give the first sort of couple of sentences. This psalm goes on and says the one enthroned in heaven laughs. The Lord ridicules them. Then he speaks to them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath. I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. So do you see sort of what's going on here?
Speaker 1:As Christ's representatives, the Jewish leaders weren't just opposing the apostles and the church, but God himself and God's Messiah Jesus, which is completely ironic given that they claim to be the people of God and were awaiting his Messiah. This was not going to end well for them, and so the disciples remind themselves that opposition has always been the lot of God's people, but that God ultimately has the victory. Friends, the more we immerse ourselves in God's word and the more we're shaped by it, the more fuel we have for powerful prayers. You know, when we pray the scripture, we're not just praying our own imagination, we're not just praying our own wish list. There's nothing wrong with bringing that to God. But when we pray scripture, we're remembering God's truth and we're praying the promises that God has made. We're bringing faith-filled prayers formed by the word of God.
Speaker 1:Pray the scripture, then they confess God's sovereignty. They've confessed God's word, and then they confess God's son. And now this whole prayer is framed by a people who know their identity in Christ. Just as they see suffering on the horizon, they call to mind Jesus' suffering and God's sovereignty in that, just as the psalm had said, the Gentiles and Jews together raged against God's anointed one, but nothing all that raging did was outside God's will and purpose. It was God who was behind all this. For his purposes, he had foretold it. God is not only the God of creation, he's the God, the master of history and of your circumstances.
Speaker 1:You know, friends, so many Christians get surprised when things don't go their way. They think somehow God has let me down. Is God even in control? But suffering is exactly what the Scriptures and Jesus foretold. He said to his disciples the servant is not above the master. Notice again the master-servant language here. He said if they persecuted me, they will persecute you too. So, friends, don't be surprised when life throws you lemons. God is still in control, working things out according to his plan, is still in control, working things out according to his plan Now. One day, every source of sin and sorrow and evil will be wiped away, and that day is actually breaking in even now as we walk in God's kingdom. But we don't live there yet. The day is still coming.
Speaker 1:When it's completed, have you ever wondered what it means to pray in Jesus' name and according to his will? To pray in Jesus' name is not just invoking Jesus' name at the end of a prayer Well, it's fine if you do that, I do it it's actually praying according to his truth and his agenda. When we pray according to his word, recalling his teachings, we pray according to his will and in his name. So, friends, remember Jesus when you pray, not just praying to Jesus, but remember his life. Well, almost two thirds of this prayer is the disciples proclaiming God's sovereignty, his word and his Messiah.
Speaker 1:Now I've heard people wonder why should we bother with all this? God knows what I need. Let's just get to the point. When we're praying together, someone prays something and it's like, okay, we're done with that, move on to the next thing. That's not what we see modelled in Scripture. Here's what I think is happening when we pray.
Speaker 1:Very often it's not just us trying to move the hand of God, although it is that okay, that's very much a real part of it somehow. But what if prayer is actually more about God shaping us and our hearts? Does that change the way we come to prayer, how we pray, what we pray? In any case, finally we come to their request. Man, is it a doozy?
Speaker 1:I find this fascinating. Do you see what they do not ask God for they don't ask God to save them from trouble. They do ask God to remember the threats their enemies have made, but they ask for boldness to proclaim his word in the face of those threats. Rise up, god. Let us not give in to fear. Help us to proclaim your gospel boldly. Does that mean we shouldn't ask God for protection? Well, no, I don't think it does, because Jesus taught us to pray. Deliver us from evil.
Speaker 1:But you know, when we're serious about doing God's work in God's way, opposition is inevitable. We have an enemy who opposes us, and I'm not talking about the people who might give you a hard time. I'm talking about demonic opposition. But our souls are secure in the Lord who saves us. But at the same time, do you remember Psalm 23? If you know Psalm 23,? It talks about the Lord is my shepherd and he makes me lie down in green pastures. And it ends with he prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. My cup overflows, but you know what's in between? I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. The road to victory leads through a road of death. The road to victory leads through a road of death. Jesus said take up your cross and follow me.
Speaker 1:We don't need saving from trouble. Trouble is inevitable. We need saving through trouble and we need boldness. We need courage in the midst of it, and you think maybe you don't feel bold Many times. I don't feel bold either, and that's precisely why we need to pray, to ask God for that boldness.
Speaker 1:We need prayers like this. There's one more part to this prayer, but it's not a request. It's a statement of faith-filled expectation, and this is the other thing I find interesting. They don't ask for God to save them from their trouble, but to give them boldness through it, and they don't ask God to smite their enemies or something like that. What they expect is for God to pour out blessing, healings and signs and wonders.
Speaker 1:Jesus said healings and miracles would accompany the preaching of his word. As they went out, they'd just seen a healing. It's what got them into trouble. They knew that God would do it, not just that he could do it. They just needed to keep stepping out in faith. Lord, as we do what you have called us to do. Please let your power be at work through us and around us at the same time, and like that story I told out of Felder Brandon. Isn't it great For God's power to be released? He actually, many times, doesn't need us to do anything, he just needs us to be there.
Speaker 1:Jesus said bless those who persecute you. At the same time, there were many who weren't persecuting them, but they were just victims of a corrupt and broken system who needed the touch of God in their lives. And if the disciples had gone, all smite the enemy God. What missed the opportunity to call down God's blessing on those who need it, on lives that were often full of sorrow and suffering? The disciples wanted to see God blessing those lives, just as is God's heart. And so what about us? Well, I've said many times, I know it's this church's heart to bring blessing to our community. No, it's this church's heart to bring blessing to our community. We long to see God's kingdom come with power to bind up the broken. Isn't God still in the business of performing healings and signs and wonders? Friends, let's expect God to do that as we pray and go out in Jesus' name.
Speaker 1:So the apostles came to their people and they prayed in unity, with one voice. They declared God's sovereignty, they stood on his word, they put Jesus at the center and they prayed for boldness to proclaim his word. As a 19th century missionary to China, hudson Taylor put it expect great things from God, attempt great things for God. He might have said it the other way around, I'm not sure. Do both, but that's what it means to pray according to God's will. And God answered spectacularly. It says the place was shaken and they were filled with his spirit. You know, god is still shaking places and I mean that literally in the Scottish Hebrides revivals in the 50s Scottish Hebrides we think of revivals as these massive things. Hebrides are these little islands with not many people on them, but God did something incredible there and they talk about God shaking buildings in their meetings. One of the leaders, ada Felder-Brennan.
Speaker 1:Another story is there was a group of Christians ministering, or they were there for a prayer meeting when they felt the place shaken and they're like they said to others, to the staff did you feel that? And actually the staff didn't feel anything like that. It was just this group. So it seems to have been on the level of a vision from God. That makes me well. Maybe God's not always about physically shaking buildings, but he wants to shake us up, or maybe sometimes he just wants to remind us how powerful he is. God wants to shake us up.
Speaker 1:Then probably my favourite part of this passage God answered their prayer. Probably my favourite part of this passage. God answered their prayer. They were filled with the Spirit and began to proclaim the word boldly. They were filled with the Spirit, filled again. They've just had Pentecost, not long ago. Are they filled again? Well, this isn't Pentecost. All over again, we receive the Spirit and we're born again and in that sense, we have the Spirit.
Speaker 1:But throughout Acts we read of fresh fillings of the Spirit when people needed God's power or God wanted to do something through them to move in a sovereign way. And, friends, there are fresh fillings and fresh anointings for us as well, because God wants to move in his world through us. And you know what God is moving in his God is at work. There are stories coming in from all over, not like massive revivals, but God is doing something. Let's not miss it.
Speaker 1:Oh, that God would fill us again so we can proclaim his word and his love to our world boldly Amen.
Speaker 1:Why don't we pray for that now, father?
Speaker 1:We thank you, lord, that you have a heart that longs to bless your world.
Speaker 1:And we know that, lord, while many people are resistant to that, and they will come under the consequences of that one day, lord, there are many who are hungry and, father, for their sake and for your sake, to bring them, for your sake, to bring them into your kingdom, lord, we need boldness, a boldness which we often don't feel. And so, father, I pray that you will give us a boldness to go and proclaim your word, to proclaim your love and, father, to bring the healing and the signs and wonders that you want to do. But, father, in the midst of this also, we're just aware that, oh, father, so many of us struggle with prayer. Lord, help us to learn from this prayer to pray Scripture back to you, to remember who you are, to remember Jesus in it. Father, help us to learn to pray in unity together, father, that we can be shaped by those prayers, but that our prayers, because they're God-filled, god-soaked, scripture-soaked prayers, will be true and will be powerful, and that you will move through them. In Jesus' name, amen.