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More Acts commentaries
Acts 1:1-5
Waiting for the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:6-11
Commissioned to Witness Everywhere
Acts 1:12-14
Unity In Prayer Among the Brethren
Acts 1:15-26
Peter Leads The Prayer Meeting
Acts 2:1-13
A Special Sign for the Early Church
Acts 2:14-21
Peter Preaches On Prophecy
Acts 2:22-28
Peter Proclaims Jesus’ Resurrection Power
Acts 2:29-36
Four proofs of the Resurrection and Ascension
Acts 2:37-47
Characteristics of the early Church
Acts 3:11-16
Supernatural healing of the crippled man
Acts 3:17-26
Peter’s Message of Repentance
Acts 4:1-12
Early Church Persecuted for their Faith
Acts 4:13-22
Boldness Brings Results
Acts 4:23-31
Prayer Produces Unity
Acts 4:32-37
Sharing Shows Brotherly-Love
Acts 5:1-11
Ananias & Sapphira Hide the Truth & Suffer Consequences
Acts 5:12-16
Effective Church Ministry
Acts 5:17-32
Obedience to God and Man
Acts 5:33-42
Gamaliel Convinces the Council – No Persecution
Acts 6:1-7
Deacons Chosen To Serve
Acts 6:8-15
Stephen Summoned before Synagogue Leaders
Acts 7:1-8
Stephen’s Sermon–God’s Covenant of Circumcision to Abraham
Acts 7:9-19
Stephen’s Sermon–Abraham’s Promised Descendents
Acts 7:20-29
Stephen’s Sermon–Moses Identifies with God’s Chosen People
Acts 7:30-43
Stephen’s Sermon–Moses’ Mandate From God
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Prayer Produces Unity
Acts 4:23–31
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
I came across a little prayer in a magazine, headed: “A Morning Prayer for Help” - note that I said “morning"! “Dear God, so far today I’ve done alright, I haven’t gossiped, lost my temper, been nasty or selfish. But in a few minutes God, … More
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and kept on speaking the word with boldness (v. 31). This prayer meeting came as a result of intense Christian service for the Lord. Too often today we go to a prayer meeting as if we were going to a party. If more Christians were witnessing for Christ on a daily basis, there would be more urgency and blessing when we meet for prayer.
Their praying was based on the Word (Psa. 2:25-26). In His Word, God speaks to us and tells us what He wants us to do. True prayer is not telling God what to do, but asking Him to do His will in us and through us (I John 5:14-15). This involves getting God’s will done on earth, and not man’s will done in heaven. They did not pray for their circumstances to be changed, but that God would empower them to make the best use of their circumstances and to be able to accomplish what He had already determined (Acts 4:28).
Application
It has been said that “Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God.” Is there anything in my life that is holding me back from being bolder in my witness for Him? If so, I need to turn it over to Him today.
Acts 4:23-31 (English Standard Version)
When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'-- for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »
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