Review
Let's take a look at what we have covered so far and I especially want you to notice any themes that emerge in this review:
· Acts 1 – Jesus commissions the disciples to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth, but they must wait until they have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They gather themselves in the upper room and devote themselves to prayer (1:14, 24).
· Acts 2 – As they are gathered together for prayer the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples. Peter explains to the crowd the “speaking in tongues” as a sign of the resurrection of Jesus (2:24, 32) and his Lordship (2:36) so that the people would repent (2:38). The Lord adds to their number and the people devote themselves among other things to prayer (2:42).
· Acts 3 – Peter and John are going up to pray and encounter a lame man whom they heal (3:1). Peter then explains the miracle as a sign of the resurrection of Jesus (3:15, 26) and his Lordship (3:18, 20) so that the people would repent (3:19).
· Acts 4 – Peter and John are confronted by the Sanhedrin about the miracle. The Jewish leaders command them to be silent but Peter, acknowledging the uniqueness and Lordship of Jesus, overrides their command with that of Jesus' which was to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth.
Tonight we finish the later half of chapter 4 where Peter and John are released and return to their friends. They share with them the threats of the leaders which provokes them to pray corporately.
Do you see a pattern? How often did Luke record that the disciples were praying together?
Corporate prayer was in ever chapter. Why? Because corporate prayer, and not just individual prayer, is an integral part of evangelism. But there is something more intriguing about this latter occasion. How does this instance stand out among the previous occurrences?
Read Acts 4:23-31
What was different? This is the first time we hear an extended prayer referencing the OT. All previous quotations of OT passages were sermons, but this is the first prayer. In chapter 1 we do hear them pray to the Lord about selecting Judas' replacement, but chapter 4 is more extensive and includes an OT quotation. Luke could have easily shortened this section and simply stated that they prayed for God to embolden them, but he doesn't. Why? Why does he take the time to write out this prayer and its connection with Psalm 2?
I think this is what Luke is teaching: Trials and tribulations are not setbacks but the sovereign plan of God who by his hand brings them to pass.
I'm not intending on trying to debate this issue. I commend my thoughts for your evaluation. But let me show you where I am getting this from and why I think it relates to us and evangelism.
Think of the two greatest “setbacks” for the disciples prior to the resurrection. I'm sure the greatest one would be the crucifixion of Christ. The one whom they thought would conquer
The resurrection of Christ revolutionized their understanding of these events. Was the betrayal of Judas a setback? Was the crucifixion of Christ a failure? No, they were both predestined by God and foretold by scripture. Notice the parallelism that Luke draws between the two events:
Judas’ Betrayal
1:16 Holy Spirit spoke by the mouth of David concerning Judas
- Psalm 69
- Psalm 109
1:16 Scripture had to be fulfilled
- Judas' betrayal of Jesus was foretold by scripture and not an after thought
- They prayed for God to choose a replacement
- Afterward a rushing wind fills the house and they are filled with the Holy Spirit and Peter speaks the word boldly.
Christ’s Crucifixion
4:25 Holy Spirit said through the mouth of our father David ... (concerning the Gentiles and people of
- Psalm 2
4:28 God's predestined plan had to take place
- The Gentile's and
- They prayed for God to embolden them and continue to work signs and wonders
- Afterward the place is shaken and they are filled with the Holy Spirit and continue to speak boldly.
The events of Judas’ betrayal and Jesus’ murder were sin, yet these events were ordained by God:
3:17-18 - “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
How did God fulfill the prophecies? He fulfilled them through the ignorance and sin of the people. Do you see where I'm getting my conclusion? Trials and tribulations are not setbacks but the sovereign plan of God who by his hand brings them to pass.
I bring this up because the sovereignty of God was the foundation of their plea for God to grant them boldness and to work miracles. Therefore it must be our foundation for the similar plea. I'm not sharing this because I am fearful that we might experience trials and tribulations. I say this because if we are faithful witnesses of Jesus we will experience trials and tribulations.
And often the best time to lay this foundation is not after hardship has struck, but beforehand, so that we can be prepared and persevere. Consider the Aesop fable of the fox and the boar.
One day a fox came across a boar rubbing his tusks on a tree. Inquisitive, the fox asked what he was doing. “I'm sharpening my tusks for when the dogs and hunters come.” The fox looked around and saw no sign of harm and then said, “But I don't see any dogs or hunters.” “There is no time to stop and sharpen my tusks when the hunt is on.”
I want us to be prepared for persecution, by recognizing God's sovereign hand in all of our trials and tribulations. Therefore, let us continue to ask God to grant us a boldness to speak the word while he continues to stretch out his hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Jesus.
Additional Resources
Audio
Article
Courage in Prayer – A short commentary on Acts 4:23-31 focusing on prayer
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