The Believer's Prayer

Introduction

A. Ministers are easy targets for criticism. Sometimes it is warranted. Most of the time it isn’t. Ministers make mistakes and unfortunately those mistakes are often more visible. Most ministers are aware that criticism will come. We just hope that it will be constructive rather than destructive in its presentation. Several years ago, a member called me to give me some constructive criticism. He told me that he didn’t know what was going on in my life (and he didn’t) but he had noticed a change in my preaching. He said “Dana, you are just going through the motions. Good messages. Good points. But no fire. No enthusiasm. You are not being fair to us or to yourself. You need to change whatever you have to change and get enthusiastic about preaching again.” He was right. And I haven’t forgotten.

B. Sometimes we need something or someone to give us a wake-up call. There are times that we go through the motions without enthusiasm. An event happens and the wind is taken out of our sails. Something occurs which we have little control over and we end up deflated and discouraged. The enthusiasm is gone. And in those situations we pray for changes. We ask God to change the situation; to take away the pain; to take away the discouragement. Maybe to even silence our critics. All valid things to pray for. But today I want us to notice something else that we as believers need to be praying for. And we will see this from Acts 4.

Events

A. Peter and John heal a crippled man in chapter 3. This miracle produced a prime opportunity to preach the gospel to those who had assembled in the temple for prayer. But their teaching would not be ignored by the rulers. We are told in 4:1 that the priests, captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees appeared on the scene as this sermon was being given. They are greatly disturbed because Peter and John were teaching the people about the resurrection. Do not gloss over that statement too quickly. Most often we think of religious leaders in terms of the sect called the Pharisees. And they did exist and they were religious leaders. It is the Pharisees that Jesus and his disciples deal with most.

B. But there was another sect of religious leaders far larger than the Pharisees called the Sadducees. Why didn’t Jesus have as many conflicts with the Sadducees? They didn’t stand in his way as often as the Pharisees. The Pharisees derived their power from learning. The Sadducees derived their power from class distinction. The Sadducees were wealthy and served Israel as the highest order of priests. They were primarily interested in preserving their role as leaders. Their interest in the law came in an attempt to hold power over the people. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection. This is the part of the message which is causing problem for these religious leaders in chapter 4.

C. Peter and John are kept in jail overnight. The next day they are questioned by Annas and Caiaphas and others. The ones who had accused Jesus of blasphemy. The ones who had led Jesus to Pilate for crucifixion. The ones who had encouraged the crowd to accept Barrabas rather than Jesus as the prisoner to release for the Passover. How would you have reacted in that situation? Would you have been afraid that they would kill you too? Peter speaks plainly and boldly. “You killed Jesus but it is by his name that this cripple man walks. Only in the name of Jesus is salvation found.” Courage. Overwhelming courage. Threats follow. But the threats have no negative effect. “We will continue to speak of Jesus and the resurrection.” What are these religious leaders to do? Too many people now support Jesus. Too many believe. Over 5000 according to 4:4. Can’t deny the miracle. More threats and finally Peter and John are released.

Prayer Time

A. Peter and John return to the disciples reporting what had happened. Don’t you know that while Peter and John were in prison overnight that others had been praying for them? After the report there are more prayers offered. Luke records one of them. This prayer is based in scripture. It is based on the power of God. They address God as Sovereign. King. Ruler. Lord of all. And his sovereignty is seen in the creation. This opening is based on the rationale of the fourth commandment from Exodus 20. God tells his people to remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy and the rationale that is given for a day of rest is that God created all things. In other words, God has the right to declare rest when he is the one who creates.

B. But then the prayer quotes Psalm 2:1-2. In these days the meaning of this psalm was disputed. Was it about the Messiah or about David? But the answer is given by these early disciples. The psalm is about Jesus. The point of the psalm—give yourself to God. Do not go against him, for God’s Son will rule. God’s Son had been killed. But the actions of Pilate, Herod, the soldiers and the Jewish leaders was not outside of God’s plan and sight. They did exactly what God had planned before time began for them to do. Jesus’ death was not an accident. His trials were not a surprise to God. The God who created planned for his Son to die and for his Son to rule.

C. And with that sovereignty well entrenched, the disciples ask for boldness to speak about Jesus. They ask that God grant to them power to demonstrate that their message is valid. And God answered their prayer with a visible sign—the place where they were praying shook and they were once again filled with the Holy Spirit.

We Need to Pray

A. What should capture our attention about this prayer is its declaration about God. God is Sovereign. What does that mean to you? After spending a night in jail, the disciples acknowledge the Sovereignty of God. Can you acknowledge the sovereignty of God? It’s easy enough when things are going well. But what about when things aren’t?

1. When our bodies deteriorate, is God still sovereign?

2. When we have spent countless nights by the side of a loved one who is unhealthy, is God still King?

3. When we are emotionally distraught from the events of life, is God still ruler?

4. When life's troubles overwhelm us, is God still Lord of all?

5. When we acknowledge God as Sovereign, then the events of life do not escape his attention. As Sovereign, the events of our lives do not surprise God. He is not got off guard by the events which strike you negatively. And the events do not happen without God's care and attention. The promise of God is not to keep his disciples from prison or that his Son would die for the sins of the world, but the promise of God is to be with us during the difficult times.

B. What should capture our attention about this prayer is what is not said.

1. The disciples do not ask for God to change the situation.

2. The disciples do not ask for the religious leaders to leave them alone.

3. The disciples do not ask for God to rid Jerusalem of those who do not know him.

4. They did not pray that they would bear up under persecution.

5. They did not pray that their actions would speak louder than words.

6. They did not pray that in their silence they could have others ask them about their quiet confidence.

7. They did not pray that they would not offend anyone.

8. They did not pray that they could be politically correct in their world.

9. They prayed for boldness to speak the word of God. They prayed that God would give them courage to go back to the temple and preach some more. They prayed that the preaching of the gospel would not be silenced by the lack of their courage.

C. I think that the early church was as intimidated as we may feel. Probably more so. I think they were pretty nervous about things because they knew what it could mean to keep on proclaiming the Gospel—it would mean imprisonment, whipping, and perhaps even death.

1. So they asked to be able to do what they needed to do.

2. They asked God to help them to do it boldly.

3. They didn't ask for political correctness—although I think God would help them to be appropriately sensitive.

4. They didn't ask for love—although I am sure He filled their hearts with that too.

5. They didn't ask for the right words—they knew the message that needed to be communicated.

6. They asked for boldness. And that should capture our attention.

D. They did not ask for the trials to go away. They asked for boldness to speak in the middle of the trials. They didn’t ask for the imprisonment to stop. They asked for courage to speak the gospel.

E. The man who called me so many years ago was right. Preaching without enthusiasm is just going through the motions. But in the same way, asking God to make our lives more comfortable instead of boldness to speak for him is just asking for the easy way out. When we truly believe that God is sovereign then we ask for boldness to speak for him. But when we fail to ask for boldness, God isn’t sovereign—our comfort is. May we be willing to admit the truth. Prayer. Invitation.

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