Bible Study - Acts 4: 23-31

The Believers' Prayer

Read Acts chapter 4 verses 23-31

I wonder how we would have reacted to a night in jail and a sound warning to be quiet by the local authorities? Peter and John went back to their own people, reported everything that had happened and prayed for boldness to speak out your word and perform signs and wonders through the name of your Holy servant Jesus. Here we see Christian fellowship in action - sharing, supporting and praying together.

Sovereign Lord, they prayed - a term used of a slave owner or a ruler of unchallengeable power. Whatever the warnings and threats from the Sanhedrin to try and silence the early church, they were ultimately answerable to a higher authority. Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand… against the Lord and against his Anointed One.

And such was the confidence of the believers in this higher authority - the Sovereign Lord, the creator of the world, that they dismiss the threat of danger from the religious authorities. They don't pray for safety or protection, simply asking the Lord to consider their threats - but also that they - God's servants may speak your word with great boldness.

There is something foolish and almost outrageous in the commitment and confidence of these early Christians in the Sovereign Lord. They seem to disregard the danger they were in. And the result of the prayer was an empowering - the place they were meeting was shaken and again they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

Questions to consider:

Our Church today may look very different to the early Church, but fellowship has an part to play. Why is it of such value for Christians to meet together to worship and pray?

What opposition have we had as Christians? How do we deal with that?

How do we view God's authority in our lives as believers?

Prayer

Sovereign Lord, speak to us through the boldness and confidence of these early believers. Empower us with your Holy Spirit to do your work here on earth. Amen.

Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 8640