PRAYER IN THE
The book of Acts presents us with a picture of church life in the first century.
One of the striking things about this picture is the amount of information about prayer.
THIS MORNING IT IS MY PLAN TO TAKE A QUICK SURVEY OF PRAYER IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.
A. This survey starts with Acts 1.
B. According to Acts 1:9 Jesus returned to heaven.
C. After
the ascension the people who watched Him leave the earth returned to
D. The 14th verse says that the Lord’s people were together.
E. These
people came together to pray. Acts
F. The people who were waiting for the day of Pentecost were praying “steadfastly.”
G. At this time there were some things these people didn’t understand.
H. There were some things these people didn’t know.
I. Because some things were not yet clear (the day of Pentecost had not yet arrived), they prayed.
J. Today we still have Christians who are unsure as to some things are supposed to go.
K. Even congregations can have are questions on how to proceed with certain things.
L. The example in Acts 1 teaches us to pray.
M. The praying described in verse 14 is described again in Acts 1:24-25.
N. Before the church was established we find that Jesus’ disciples persisted in prayer.
O. What happens in the next chapter?
P. The church is established. People prayed in Acts 1 and things began to happen in Acts 2.
Q. Christians began to better understand some things and they received power from the Holy Spirit.
R. God responded to the prayers of His people.
S. Today when some receive good things from God they reason, “I got what I wanted.”
T. “Things have gone very well; I will stop praying until I again need God.”
U. This may be the way that some do things now but this is not how things worked in Jerusalem.
V. Notice Acts 2:42.
W. The church of the Bible did some things on a regular basis (steadfastly).
X. Christians ate meals together. They studied together. They worshipped together.
Y. They even prayed together on a regular basis.
Z. Even though God had done great things for His people, the Christians continued to pray.
AA. A lot of praying is described in the first two chapters of Acts.
BB. What do we find in Acts 3?
CC. We will start with the first verse. Acts 3:1.
DD. The Jews had a regular time for prayer.
EE. Peter and John were walking towards the temple at the time of prayer.
FF. Many believe these Christians were not going there to teach.
GG. If we are going to teach someone we go at a time when they are not occupied.
HH. Many believe that the apostles continued to pray when the Jews did.
II. Though these men were no longer practicing Judaism, they kept to their habit of prayer.
JJ. If this is the right explanation there is church prayer in Acts 1, Acts 2, and Acts 3.
KK. Perhaps I should have said Acts 1, Acts 2, Acts 3, and Acts 4.
LL. You see prayer is also found in the fourth chapter of this book.
i). This is found in verses 23-31.
ii). Peter and John (two preachers) were arrested.
iii). They were taken before the authorities.
iv). Did God’s people hurry around, take up a collection, and retain a lawyer for the apostles?
v). The Bible says God’s people prayed.
vi). Acts 4:29-30.
vii). Acts 4 tells each one of us something about prayer.
viii). If we want to be a great church we need to be a praying church.
ix). Notice Acts 4:32.
x). It’s hard to hate someone we earnestly pray for.
xi). If we fervently pray for someone it is nearly impossible to not help them.
xii). Prayer binds people together. Prayer makes a good church a great church.
xiii). It makes a great church an even greater church.
2. There is no reference to prayer in Acts 5 but we find two references to it in Acts 6.
A. The first of these references in Acts 6:4.
B. There was a job that needed to be done. Some widows needed to receive food.
C. The preachers said, “We need to preach and pray. Others can pass out the food.”
D. Among the leaders in the first century church, prayer was a priority.
E. This prayer was even associated with decision-making.
F. The congregation found some men who could take care of the food problem.
G. These men were brought forward and more prayers were offered. Acts 6:6.
3. THUS FAR IN THE BOOK OF ACTS MOST OF THE PRAYERS HAVE NOT BEEN TOO EARTH SHATTERING. THIS CHANGES IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.
A. Acts 7 tells us about a preacher named Stephen.
B. This man preached a sermon that some people didn’t like.
C. In fact, some people killed him because he spoke the truth.
D. As this man died here is how he exited this life.
E. Acts 7:59-60.
F. Church leaders prayed about major decisions.
G. Christians engaged in prayer on a regular basis.
H. When God’s people came to the time of death they continued to pray.
4. After Stephen died many Christians were chased out of town.
A. One of the Christians who left town was Philip.
B. This man went to Samaria. He found some people who were willing to hear the gospel.
C. He taught them, they became Christians, and then Philip made a request.
D. Those in the first century did not have Bibles. God’s word was not written down.
E. To help people know what was right and wrong miraculous gifts were given and used.
F. These gifts were given through the apostles (Acts 8:18).
G. Two apostles went to Samaria to give miraculous gifts to the new Christians.
H. In addition to giving these people miraculous abilities, prayers were also offered.
I. Acts 8:15.
J. The picture in the book of Acts, thus far, indicates Christians prayed every chance they had.
K. Shortly after this prayer was worded there is another mention of prayer (verse 22).
L. A man (a Christian) committed a terrible sin.
M. Peter said to this man, “Pray.”
N. Sometimes people need to be told they should pray or pray more.
O. Peter told this man to pray.
P. The man said he wanted a faithful Christians to pray for him (verse 24).
Q. This request shows that intercessory prayers were practiced by those who were Christians.
5. Prayer was such an important part of daily life that even non-Christians prayed.
6. Saul was a non-Christian but he was praying (Acts 9:11).
7. Maybe at a later time we will explore Saul’s non-Christian prayer.
8. For now we are going to continue our survey with Acts 9:40.
9. The first century was a time for miracles. People could raise the dead.
10. This is what Peter did in Acts 9:40. He prayed and then brought a Christian back to life.
11. READ Acts 9:40.
12. The apostles and every other Christian saw prayer as a necessary part of life.
13. Prayer was a key ingredient to Christian living.
A. Even those in the military prayed.
B. We learn about this in Acts 10.
C. There was a good man who continually prayed to God (Acts 10:2, 4). His name was Cornelius.
D. He always prayed to God.
E. Maybe at a later time a study can be made of this man.
F. For now our attention must return to Peter.
G. Peter was praying (Acts 10:9).
H. The Bible says, “he became hungry” (Acts 10:10).
I. This suggests that Peter prayed a long time.
J. This man was an apostle. He had helped convert thousands of people.
K. He had healed many who were sick and he even brought at least one person back from the dead.
L. In spite of all these accomplishments this man was deeply immersed in prayer.
M. If Peter with all his spiritual accomplishments was dependent upon prayer, what about us?
N. Peter mentions his praying in Acts 11:5 but I am going to move to Acts 12:5, 12.
O. Peter is again featured in this chapter. This describes a time when Peter was in prison.
i). Those who are incarcerated do different things while they are confined.
ii). Some work on an escape plan. Others file lawsuits.
iii). What did the early Christians do after was imprisoned? Acts 12:5; 12.
iv). The church came together and prayed for Peter’s release.
v). Who here has ever seen a time when an entire congregation was unexpectedly called together?
vi). At a time when a major crisis occurred the church was called together to prayer.
vii). I have never seen that.
viii). Suggesting this might cause us to get some funny looks from other Christians.
ix). Some might think that a prayer session is a useless gathering; a waste of time.
x). In the first century God’s people were willing to come together for a prayer session.
xi). In this example we find that God responded to the prayers. Peter was released from jail.
14. In the next chapter we are again introduced to prayer.
A. The church was preparing to send out missionaries.
B. Acts 13:2-3 says, READ.
C. People prayed for those who were going to serve as missionaries.
D. In the next chapter prayer is joined with the appointment of elders; 14:23
E. Acts 16 has three references to prayer.
F. Paul studied with some ladies who were part of a prayer group (Acts 16:13).
G. More work in a place of prayer (perhaps the same place) was done (Acts 16:16).
H. The good works that were done caused Paul land Silas to be cast into prison.
I. While in jail these men prayed (Acts 16:25).
15. Prayer was part of a farewell in Acts 21:5.
16. A prayer for guidance is found in Acts 22:17.
17. There is a prayer for survival in Acts 27:29 (ASV footnote).
18. There is a prayer for healing in Acts 28:8.
19. My hope, in the coming weeks, is to more fully explore these prayers in Acts.
20. Today we can only survey these passages and make this observation.
21. The first century church was a praying church.
22. If we want a great congregation in Goshen, IN we must be a praying church.
23. Are we? Have we made that commitment and stuck with it?
24. Or, do we treat prayer as a matter of average importance?
25. In the first century church prayer was as essential to living as food and water.