Prayer Unleashes the Power of God (Acts 4:31)
There are two characteristics that dominated the apostle’s prayer meetings:
1.God presence
2.God’s power
Acts 4:31
[31] And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
God’s awesome presence and his mighty power were evident when the disciples prayed! The place was shaken and they spoke God’s word boldly! Is it any wonder that the Evil One seeks relentlessly to keep Christ’s followers from praying?
When we don’t pray Satan has won the battle, but when we pray, the presence and the power of God are unleashed. In Acts 2, Peter boldly preached the Word of God on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 people were saved.
Acts 2:40a-41
[40] And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them . . ." [41] So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Again in Acts 4, after the lame man was healed at the Gate Beautiful, Peter boldly preached the Word of God and many were saved.
Acts 4:4
But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
We should witness God’s power and presence when we gather as a group to pray.
1.When was the last time you experienced God’s presence?
2.When was the last time you experienced God’s power?
3.Is there some reason why we do not want to experience God’s power and presence?
The disciples in Jerusalem experienced the power of God in a very tangible and real way.
Acts 4:31
[31] And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
“The place was shaken.”
Perhaps the shaking was from:
1.Thunder in the sky.
2.Tremor of the earth.
3.Maybe it was the devil shaking in his boots!
4.Whatever caused it, the shaking gave those early disciples a sense of God’s presence and power.
How will we know when the power and presence of God show up in a prayer gathering? It seems that the most obvious answer is through answered prayer!
The practice of prayer in a believer’s life is an incredible, virtually untapped power source!
What does prayer really do?
1.Prayer moves the hand of God!
2.Prayer prevails!
3.Prayer turns ordinary mortals into men and women of power!
4.Prayer is the key that unlocks the storehouse of God’s riches!
5.Prayer is the call that moves heaven to act on behalf of earth!
What should we do?
1.Pray frequently!
2.Pray earnestly!
3.Pray emotionally!
4.Pray expectantly!
5.Pray until GOD answers -- and He will!!
There are two characteristics that dominated the apostle’s prayer meetings:
1.God presence
2.God’s power
Acts 4:31
[31] And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
God’s awesome presence and his mighty power were evident when the disciples prayed! The place was shaken and they spoke God’s word boldly! Is it any wonder that the Evil One seeks relentlessly to keep Christ’s followers from praying?
When we don’t pray Satan has won the battle, but when we pray, the presence and the power of God are unleashed. In Acts 2, Peter boldly preached the Word of God on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 people were saved.
Acts 2:40a-41
[40] And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them . . ." [41] So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Again in Acts 4, after the lame man was healed at the Gate Beautiful, Peter boldly preached the Word of God and many were saved.
Acts 4:4
But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
We should witness God’s power and presence when we gather as a group to pray.
1.When was the last time you experienced God’s presence?
2.When was the last time you experienced God’s power?
3.Is there some reason why we do not want to experience God’s power and presence?
The disciples in Jerusalem experienced the power of God in a very tangible and real way.
Acts 4:31
[31] And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
“The place was shaken.”
Perhaps the shaking was from:
1.Thunder in the sky.
2.Tremor of the earth.
3.Maybe it was the devil shaking in his boots!
4.Whatever caused it, the shaking gave those early disciples a sense of God’s presence and power.
How will we know when the power and presence of God show up in a prayer gathering? It seems that the most obvious answer is through answered prayer!
The practice of prayer in a believer’s life is an incredible, virtually untapped power source!
What does prayer really do?
1.Prayer moves the hand of God!
2.Prayer prevails!
3.Prayer turns ordinary mortals into men and women of power!
4.Prayer is the key that unlocks the storehouse of God’s riches!
5.Prayer is the call that moves heaven to act on behalf of earth!
What should we do?
1.Pray frequently!
2.Pray earnestly!
3.Pray emotionally!
4.Pray expectantly!
5.Pray until GOD answers -- and He will!!
Dig Deeper
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