Prayer for Boldness | God'sTruthEndures

A PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BOLDNESS

Acts 4:23-31

OPENING WORDS

For our final session together, as we consider the theme of the retreat: TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE,

I want to examine how CORPORATE PRAY MAKES a difference in our EVANGELISTIC BOLDNESS.

SCRIPTURE

Please turn with me to Acts 4:23-31.

INTRODUCTION

If we are honest with ourselves, each of us must admit that on ONE or more occasions we have felt reluctant, fearful or intimidated by unbelievers when it comes to proclaiming the Good News.

We have feared being rejected/disliked, rebuked, or challenged/questioned at some point, many, if not most of us has shrunk back from communicating the gospel because of how unbelievers might respond.

Or after sharing the gospel, we may have gotten discouraged or intimidated because not only what persons rejected it, but because of what they’ve said or threatened to do.

Our passage today in Acts 4:23-31, I trust, will help us, for this passage provides the church’s PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BOLDNESS.

Before we examine this passage, I want to give you a brief background to the Book of Acts and these verses:

BRIEF BACKGROUND

It records Jesus Christ fulfilling His promise to build His church by the Holy Spirit through the apostles and the church.
The Book of Acts chronicles the acts of the Holy Spirit through the ministry of the apostles, and documents the progress of the gospel and expansion of the church.
Jesus told the apostles they would witness to Him beginning in Jerusalem (chs.1-7), Judea and Samaria (chs.8-12), and the uttermost parts of the earth (chs.13-28).

The passage we read is a continuation of events that begin in chapter 3, and continue through chapter 5.

I. In , we see .

The apostles, Peter and John encountered a man with a congenital ailment; he was physically immobile/impaired man, and they encountered him at the gate of the temple, who was begging for donations from others as they entered the temple.
And as he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, Peter said:

“I DO NOT POSSESS SILVER AND GOLD, BUT WHAT I DO HAVE I GIVE TO YOU: IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST THE NAZARENE—WALK!”

So, Peter seized him by the hand, raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened, and for the first time in his life, he could walk.
He was healed physically, but more importantly, he was healed spiritually by faith in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST (v.16).

This was THE HEALING OF THE HELPESS.

II. Next, we read of the

In , upon seeing the man leaping, walking, and praising God…

the people were filled with WONDER & AMAZEMENT, right, because they had seen this man for years—incapacitated—sitting at the gate of the temple begging alms, and they ran to the man and the apostles—full of awe.
Then, Peter preaches this message and in it:
- He says that by God’s servant, Jesus Christ, the Holy and Righteous One, the Prince of Life—whom you disowned and delivered to be crucified—God raised from the dead!
- And it’s not by our own power or piety, but by faith in His Name that this man stands before you healed!
- Thus, repent and return so that your sins may be wiped away…!
- For it is to you, first, that God sent His servant Jesus to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.

Thus, people trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ and the church grew to about 5,000 souls, upon hearing/obeying THE MESSAGE TO THE MULTITUDE.

III. Afterward, we read of THE SERMON TO THE SANHEDRIN.

In chapter 4:1-22, we see the beginning of Christian persecution. Peter and John are seized (possibly with the lame man), detained overnight, and brought before the SANHEDRIN, which is the JEWISH SUPREME COUNCIL; the JEWISH HIGH COURT (like the US Supreme Court of our day).

Peter to the multitude on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 and to the multitude in the temple in chapter 3. Now, this marks the first opposition and threat.

The Sanhedrin consisted of 70 persons and a High Priest (total of 71). They governed the religious and judicial matters of Israel under Roman. They accused Jesus of blasphemy, rallied the people, and urged Pilot to have him crucified.

Following their arrest, they brought, Peter, John, and the lame man before the Sanhedrin, where they questioned them about the healing and their preaching, Peter preaches to the Sanhedrin.

Peter says it’s by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and God raised, this man has been made well.
He says that Jesus Christ is CHIEF CORNER STONE which you, THE BUILDERS, have rejected, and that…
There’s NO OTHER NAME other than the NAME of Jesus Christ by which WE MUST BE SAVED, which implied that by their rejection of Him, they too needed to be saved!
What supernatural boldness, supernatural courage to preach Christ before the very ones who called for His death!

It’s important to see that God was with them in their arrest. God allowed their arrest so that they could stand before the Supreme Council of “justice” which was really a mockery of justice, they stood now as Christ’s ambassadors, to declare to the Highest Jewish Court that

Jesus Christ—whom they rejected and murdered—
is the DIVINE HEALER,
is the CHIEF CORNER STONE,
and the ONLY SAVIOR.

Sometimes, God may allow you to experience some suffering, hardship, or discomfort to position you to be a spokesperson for Christ.

In response, the apostles received THE THREATH TO THWART PREACHING CHRIST (vv.13-22)

So there was…

THE HEALING OF THE HELPLESS

THE MESSAGE TO THE MULTITUDE

THE SERMON TO THE SANHEDRIN

THE THREAT TO THWART PREACHING CHRIST

So we come to the next section of this account, which we will entitle…

THE PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BOLDNESS (2X)

Verse 23:

WHEN THEY HAD BEEN RELEASED, THEY WENT TO THEIR OWN COMPANIONS AND REPORTED ALL THAT THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE ELDERS HAD SAID TO THEM.

Now, remember, that Peter and John, had been …

previously ARRESTED,

DETAINED overnight,

and then PUT ON TRIAL the next day.

So, they’ve been separated from the other apostles and the early church for some time.

But by God’s PROVIDENCE, (the apostles), Peter and John were by the religious rulers (the Sanhedrin) …

Because the evidence was clear: 1) the man was miraculously healed (vv.14-16) and 2) as a result, the people were glorifying God (v.21) …

Ultimately, because THE LORD is committed to the progress of the Gospel,

Jesus Christ is determined to continue building/expanding His church,

… and the apostles have been chosen/appointed (John (6:70; 13:18; 15:19) to bear witness that Jesus is THE CHRIST, the only Savior, and that GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD.

So, the Scripture says that

Peter and John REUNITED with the other apostles, at a minimum;

Maybe they united with some of the 120 persons who were mentioned in chapter 1:14-15, or with believers from the Jerusalem church, although it doesn’t specify.

Perhaps the believers gathered in the upper room mentioned in 1:13, although the Scripture doesn’t tell us.

But they WENT TO THEM and REPORTED ALL THAT THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE ELDERS [i.e., THE MEMBERS OF THE JEWISH SUPREME COUNCIL/HIGH COURT/SANHEDRIN] HAD SAID TO THEM.

THE CHIEF PRIESTS were the former High Priests who comprised the powerful/wealthy (aristocratic) families of the Sanhedrin.

THE ELDERS also made up the Sanhedrin.

So Peter and John report to the other believers what the religious leaders said to them.

Question: And what had the rulers said to them?

Go back to verse 18:

It says …THEY COMMANDED THEM NOT TO SPEAK OR TEACH AT ALL IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

DON’T SPEAK or TEACH JESUS’S NAME or you’re going to be punished!

And by implication, this meant all the apostles and the entire church of Jerusalem.

(They didn’t want the apostles teaching the people, telling people that the leaders killed the Messiah, and they didn’t want believers preaching [nor people believing] that Christ rose from the dead.

And if they crucified the Messiah, then what do you think they’ll do to His followers? These wicked leaders and the Christ-rejecting crowd were able to convince Pilate to execute Jesus Christ.

And even after Peter and John said that “…WE CANNOT STOP SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD.” (v.20)…

…The leaders THREATENED THEM AGAIN before they released them (v. 21).

So, in light of (the apostles’ arrest, detainment, and) the rulers’ threats, and now ASSEMBLED TOGETHER, how will they COLLECTIVELY respond?

Verse 24:

24 AND WHEN THEY HEARD THIS, THEY LIFTED THEIR VOICES TO GOD WITH ONE ACCORD…

You see, they responded in UNIFIED, CORPORATE PRAYER.

HAVING HEARD the warnings of the HIGH COURT (and probably in view of how they condemned Christ), these believers exhibited/demonstrated their COLLECTIVE TRUST IN GOD and their COLLECTIVE NEED for GOD’S HELP!

So, they RAISED their COLLECIVE VOICES TO GOD WITH ONE ACCORD, WITH ONE MIND.

You see, it wasn’t just that they all PRAYED together, but that they PRAYED IN ABSOLUTE AGREEMENT.

In the BOOK OF ACTS, it appears when you look at places like 1:14 (the first corporate prayer meeting of Acts); 2:46; and 5:12, that the Holy Spirit wants us to see how the early church operated WITH ONE MIND to illustrate how vital it is for churches to operate today.

: What an example for us. This in this case, we see the importance of prayer in times of threat/danger, but also of UNITY in prayer.

And notice the CONTENT of their prayer, still in :

It is a prayer in recognition of God’s ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY. Coffman's Commentaries on Acts 4 states "The church in danger finds support and solace in the thought of God's absolute sovereignty."

24…“O LORD [or MASTER] …

First, they acknowledge God’s supreme authority.

They recognize God’s absolute ownership and unlimited power.
They recognize God’s sovereign rule.

First, they acknowledge God’s sovereignty over creation.

O LORD IT IS YOU [and no one else,] …

… WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,

1) First, they recognize His LORDSHIP/POWER/CONTROL OVER CREATION.

IT IS YOU, [LORD]…

…who CREATED

… who FOUNDED THE EARTH

… who MADE THE SEA

…And EVERYTHING that lives/dwells/abides in them!

These believers could recall creation passages like , which state:

“YOU ALONE ARE THE LORD.
YOU HAVE MADE THE HEAVENS,
THE HEAVEN OF HEAVENS WITH ALL THEIR HOST,
THE EARTH AND ALL THAT IS ON IT,
THE SEAS AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM.
YOU GIVE LIFE TO ALL OF THEM
AND THE HEAVENLY HOST BOWS DOWN BEFORE YOU.

QUESTION: What would it mean for your evangelistic confidence if the next time you were fearful about presenting the gospel or discouraged because of how someone responded, you prayed/meditated on God’s sovereignty/power over all creation?

This is what these believers did.

1) They declare His LORDSHIP OVER CREATION.

2) Secondly, they acknowledge GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER PROPHECY & REVELATION.

Verses 25 and 26:

25 WHO BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, THROUGH THE MOUTH OF OUR FATHER DAVID YOUR SERVANT, SAID, ‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? 26 ‘THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’

So, what do they pray? They pray Scripture.

They pray a portion of Psalm 2, which in its original context refers to the vanity of rulers and kings of nations conspiring against the LORD and His Anointed king, David, whom God has already installed as king upon Mt. Zion.

But as we’ll see, it is also a Messianic psalm that looks ahead to the collective scheme/plot against THE LORD GOD and against His Son, King Jesus.

Thus, they pray, O LORD, YOU WHO SPOKE these WORDS.

…BY THE HOLY SPIRIT …

That speaks of the HOLY SPIRIT moving upon David to write Psalm 2 (as inspired Scripture); this is the divine means of prophetic transmission.

And the believers refer to DAVID as “[THEIR] FATHER,” the revered patriarch of Israel, former king of Israel and predecessor to Christ.

[David is also referred to as a prophet (Acts1:16; 2:29-30)]

They correctly rightly identify David as [THE LORD’S] SERVANT, as he’s called in 2 Samuel (7:4, 8, 19-21, 25-29).

Continuing in :

25...[LORD, YOU] SAID, ‘WHY DID THE GENTILES [or NATIONS] RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE [THESE] FUTILE, VAIN, EMPTY, FRUITLESS THINGS …WHICH AMOUNT TO NOTHING?

Why did they CONSPIRE together? It’s an exercise in futility.

26 ‘THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED [ASSEMBLED] TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’

Psalm 2 says, the LORD SITS IN THE HEAVENS [AND] LAUGHS.

It’s a joke.

3) After acknowledging:

THE LORD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER CREATION,

HIS SOVEREIGNTY OVER REVELATION AND PROPHECY,

They NOW acknowledge GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES/EVENTS—INCLUDING CHRIST’S DEATH.

Look at verses 27 and 28:

27 FOR TRULY IN THIS CITY, meaning JERUSALEM …

…THERE WERE GATHERED [ASSEMBLED] TOGETHER AGAINST YOUR HOLY SERVANT JESUS, WHOM YOU ANOINTED…

Notice the Messianic overtones. He is the LORD’S REPRESENTATIVE, MESSENGER;

Christ is THE LORD’S “SERVANT” who is described in the prophesies of Isaiah 42:1; 49:6; 52:13; 53:11

Peter rightly proclaimed Christ as the LORD’S SERVANT in Acts 3:13, 26;
And here, the believers were declaring CHRIST to be the LORD’S SERVANT in their prayer (vv. 27, 30).

Question: And who is [ASSEMBLED] TOGETHER AS GOD’S SERVANT?

…BOTH HEROD, who was the Roman ruler over Galilee and Perea

…AND PONTIUS PILATE, the Roman Governor of Judea, and senior administrative/military official),

…ALONG WITH THE GENTILES (or NATIONS), which included the Roman soldiers under Pilate’s rule (Peter called them “LAWLESS MEN” [2:6]).

…AND THE PEOPLES OF ISRAEL included the Jewish leaders and their people who rejected Christ up to His crucifixion and especially those who cried out, “CRUCIFY HIM”).

And this prophecy was fulfilled in the unjust arrest, false conviction, beatings of Christ, and was climaxed at His crucifixion.

So, they’re prayer describes a prophesy of this COLLECTIVE FORCE (of both Jew and Gentile), this COOPERATIVE CAMPAIGN (UNANIMOUS HATRED) against THE LORD and against JESUS CHRIST.

Now, taken together, this sounds like an impressive force, right?

However, if it were not for the truth of verse 28:

Look:

28 TO DO WHATEVER YOUR HAND AND YOUR PURPOSE PREDESTINED TO OCCUR.

In their prayer, the disciples recognized THE LORD’S SOVEREIGNTY/CONTROL over the greatest atrocity in history – the death of Jesus Christ.

They pray, TRULY the rulers and the nations (both Jewish and Gentile alike) accomplished PRECISELY what YOUR POWER and your COUNSEL FOREORDAINED TO OCCUR.

It’s what God ORDAINED in History past.

It’s what God previously DETERMINED.

They acknowledge that this cooperative rejection/collective opposition (His sufferings/His crucifixion/His death) was according to THE PREDETERMINED PLAN AND FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD (Acts 2:23).

It’s what HE WILLED.

It’s what GOD announced BEFOREHAND BY THE PROPHETS, which GOD fulfilled (Acts 3:18).

The enemies of Christ acted in exact accordance with God’s PREDETERMINED WILL, yet they were still guilty/responsibility for crucifying CHRIST.

How do you explain that? We must respond like Paul in declaring:

33 OH, THE DEPTH OF THE RICHES BOTH OF THE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD! HOW UNSEARCHABLE ARE HIS JUDGMENTS AND UNFATHOMABLE HIS WAYS! (Romans 11:33)

IMPORTANT:

So, these were not a bunch of weak, faithless Christians assembled for a prayer meeting.

They prayed with GREAT FAITH and THEOLOGICAL INSIGHT into God’s sovereignty…demonstrated in His sovereignty over the greatest INJUSTICE in human history—the suffering and murder of Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION:

They were praying scripturally, theologically (partly informed by Psalm 2).

Thus, when you have a biblically-informed prayer life, it will not only enlarge your view of God’s and His sovereignty, but also intensify your faith in circumstances.

My brothers and sisters, when proclaiming the gospel and insult, mockery, or other forms of rejection occur, don’t get shy, timid, discouraged or fearful, DWELL ON GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER OUR EVANGELISM AND ITS RESULTS/CONSEQUENCES.

Thus, the point is if they (and you and I) since remember that:

GOD, YOU ARE THE LORD OF ALL CREATION,

YOU ARE THE LORD OF ALL REVELATION,

YOU ARE THE LORD OF ALL CIRCUMSTANCES/EVENTS, even CHRIST’S SUFFERING …

… Then YOU can EMBOLDEN US to fulfill the GREAT COMMISSION! You can enable us to continue what Christ commissioned us to do.

WHY? Because He’s the LORD OF ALL PROVISION.

So that leads them to THEIR PETITION (they’re just now getting to the request):

AND NOW, LORD, TAKE NOTE OF THEIR THREATS …

That is, LORD, LOOK UPON the THREATS (for us to stop speaking and teaching JESUS CHRIST, to fulfill Christ’s commission [vv. 18, 21]),

CONSIDER [HCSB] their THREATS/WARNINGS!

…AND GRANT THAT YOUR BOND-SERVANTS MAY SPEAK YOUR WORD WITH ALL CONFIDENCE,

: that they didn’t pray for an escape route (LORD GET US OUT OF HERE).

They didn’t pray that God would remove the persecution OR lighten the opposition.

They prayed, LORD, GIVE US—YOUR BONDSERVANTS [Lit. SLAVES]…

SPIRITUAL BOLDNESS;

SPIRIT-FILLED COURAGE to CONTINUALLY PROCLAIM YOUR WORD!

They acknowledge themselves as SLAVES because God is their LORD, their SOVEREIGN MASTER!

HE MUST GIVE THEM THIS, they can’t (spiritual boldness is from the Lord)!

They evidence TOTAL TRUST/DEPENDENCE ON GOD.

SO LORD, EMPOWER/EMBOLDEN US TO CONTINUOUSLY PREACH THE GOSPEL in light of the warnings/threats without intimidation/fear (their lives are in jeopardy).

: BROTHERS AND SISTERS, LISTEN, the gospel must go forth, the church of Jesus Christ must be built! Christ must be magnified!

Interestingly, in verse 20, they already assured the leaders that they were going to defy them? They said, WE CAN’T STOP SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT WE’VE SEEN AND HEARD.

BUT THEY UNDERSTOOD that the Lord must FILL THEM WITH SPIRITUAL POWER to FULFILL what they aimed to do.

30 WHILE YOU EXTEND YOUR HAND TO HEAL, AND SIGNS AND WONDERS TAKE PLACE THROUGH THE NAME OF YOUR HOLY SERVANT JESUS.”

They pray LORD, as you EMBOLDEN US, STRETCH FORTH YOUR HAND [POWER] to cure the diseased, demon possessed, the disabled.

Manifest YOUR POWER though MIGHTY SIGNS AND WONDERS to confirm/validate (the truth of) the GOSPEL we PROCLAIM.

DO IT…THROUGH THE NAME [AUTHORITY/PERSON] OF YOUR HOLY SERVANT JESUS! – as you did with the man at the temple.

Brothers and sisters, do you think God knows the threats/the opposition we face. He knows.

TRANSITION: This was the PRAYER FOR BOLD PROCLAMATION…

ILLUSTRATION: What about you? Is this your prayer? Is this my prayer? It should be. Are you not evangelizing for fearfulness or shyness because of what strangers or family members or friends might say (or have said) or possibly, do?

THEN, BESEECH THE LORD to supply you with the COURAGE TO BE BOLD in your WITNESS FOR CHRIST.

This is the need of the hour! We need it more than ever, right? There’s a need for spiritually emboldened believers who will proclaim Christ.

Satan wants an fearful, shy church!

We are evangelizing in difficult times.
We are evangelizing in times of increased tolerance for wickedness and intolerance for good.

And people are indifferent, disagreeable, and hostile to the gospel.

But remember Jesus’s words in Luke 10:16: “THE ONE WHO LISTENS TO YOU LISTENS TO ME, AND THE ONE WHO REJECTS YOU REJECTS ME; AND HE WHO REJECTS ME REJECTS THE ONE WHO SENT ME.”

It’s not about you/me.

Was this prayer GOD’S WILL for the early church? Is this His will today?

Let’s look at GOD’S ANSWER to the prayer.

Verse 31:

AND WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED, THE PLACE WHERE THEY HAD GATHERED TOGETHER WAS SHAKEN, AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK THE WORD OF GOD WITH BOLDNESS.

As they petitioned God, God allowed them to experience this supernatural phenomenon TO OCCUR AT THE PLACE and IN THEM.

God SHOOK the place revealing His PRESENCE and AFFIRMING His ANSWER.

The same experience occurred at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20), in the temple vision (Isaiah 6), and in the Philippian jail (Acts 16).

And God with

That is, He MIRACULOUSLY EMPOWERED THEM,

HE SUPERNATURALLY ENABLED THEM, (FURTEHR STRENTHENED/GAVE THEM A FULL MEASURE OF HIS SPIRIT AND ENCOURAGED THEM)

IT’S A SIGN OF GOD’S COMMITMENT FOR THEM TO HAVE POWER (Acts 1:8)

HE EMBOLDENED THEM…to SPEAK W/CONVICTION, CONFIDENCE, AND W/COURAGE (Acts 1:8, Acts 4:8, Acts 4:31, Acts 6:3, Acts 6:5, Acts 7:55, Acts 8:17, Acts 9:17, Acts 11:15, Acts 13:9, Acts 13:52).

And they BEGAN TO SPEAK, defying the rulers, possibly right there IN THEIR MIDST, and certainly, to the masses – as it continues in chapter 5.

Chapters 5: In fact, after here, they continue to preach Christ, get arrested and jailed, God releases them, they continue preaching, then are seized and go before the Sanhedrin again and they say we gave you strict orders not to preach the gospel, and the apostles say, WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN, they are beaten and further threatened, and they leave, REJOICING THAT THEY WERE COUNTED WORTHY TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST’S NAME AND THEY YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DO CONTINUE TO DO BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT—daily in the temple and from house to house they kept on teaching and preaching Jesus Christ.

Chapter 8: The believers boldly proclaim Christ in the face of persecution. Persecution ignites their boldness to preach!

This is the Lord’s will for us to pray and for Him to answer—because it’s consistent with the Great Commission.

If we are honest with ourselves, each of us must admit that on ONE or more occasions we have felt reluctant, fearful or intimidated by unbelievers when it comes to proclaiming the Good News.

Our passage today in Acts 4:23-31, I trust, will help us, for this passage provides the church’s PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BOLDNESS.

Knowing that it’s the will of God, how many of us NOT ONLY have the audacity to PRAY that God would EMBOLDEN YOU to preach Jesus Christ…BUT TO ACT ON THAT BOLDNESS?

GOING INTO 2018, if the Lord wills, may this be your prayer/desire as we aim to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ with unashamed, SPIRIT-FILLED boldness.

LET’S PRAY.