{"id":3402,"date":"2017-11-05T17:53:48","date_gmt":"2017-11-05T21:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/?p=3402"},"modified":"2017-12-22T09:35:21","modified_gmt":"2017-12-22T13:35:21","slug":"the-first-persecution-message-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/?p=3402","title":{"rendered":"The First Persecution, Message 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sermon by Rev. Richard Jones<\/strong><\/h3>\n

(No audio recording available due to technical problems)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE FIRST PERSECUTION<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Message 3: The Prayer That Changed History<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Acts:4 23-31<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Acts 4:23-31 (ESV)
\n<\/strong>23 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
\n24 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, \u201cSovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
\n25 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, \u201c\u201d\u02dcWhy did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?<\/span>
\n26 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together,<\/span> against the Lord and against his Anointed\u201d\u2122\u201d\u201d<\/span>
\n27 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0for 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,
\n28 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
\n29 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,
\n30 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.\u201d
\n31 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And 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. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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A PRAYER OF CONFIDENCE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Peter and John told the church all about it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

23 <\/sup>\u00a0When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

How would the church respond? <\/strong><\/p>\n

They prayed a corporate prayer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

24 <\/sup>\u00a0And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, \u201cSovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

They began with a powerful name for God. “<\/span>Sovereign Lord,” <\/em><\/span>Absolute master, “<\/span>Despato,” <\/em><\/span>All powerful. You are also the creator of everything with the right to rule.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Then their minds immediately turn to Scripture.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A quotation from Psalm 2. This was\u00a0a Psalm written by David, guided by the Holy Spirit, a prophesy with DOUBLE FULFILLMENT. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a025 <\/sup>\u00a0who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, \u201c\u201d\u02dcWhy did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?<\/span>
\n26 <\/sup>\u00a0The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together,<\/span> against the Lord and against his Anointed\u201d\u2122\u201d\u201d<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And they understood that this Psalm in part referred to their situation right then.<\/strong><\/p>\n

27 <\/sup>\u00a0for 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,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The world around us has ganged up on Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n

BUT…<\/strong><\/p>\n

28 <\/sup>\u00a0to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It was to fulfill Your plan…Free will and God’s Sovereignty (God overrules).<\/strong><\/p>\n

Note that these Christians do not cry out in fear, but thy cry up in confidence. They are not running away from their problem, but they are kneeling before the God of solutions. And they ask for Divine enablement, not escape.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A PRAYER OF CONVICTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

They honestly laid the situation before God with humility. They stated the facts as they saw them, but they left the judgement up to Him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

29 <\/sup>\u00a0And now, Lord, look upon their threats<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

William MacDonald wrote, “They did not presume to dictate to God how to punish these wicked men, but simply left the matter to Him.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “True prayer is not telling God what to do, but asking God to do His will in and through us.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

The church presented the difficulty to God with a united voice. They prayed specifically, but they also prayed courageously. They never considered the possibility of stopping the message. They never considered quitting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

29\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Safety was not the important thing. Fearless preaching was.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“God give us the grace to keep going! Help us keep telling the message.”<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n

They did not pray to be kept safe, but to be kept courageous. They did not ask for protection, but for power.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Phillip Brooks once wrote, “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

These early Christians asked God for the one thing that they knew beyond doubt was His will. They asked for grace to continue sharing the Gospel.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Someone has stated, “Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

This prayer was in the center of God’s will. It still is. God will always give us the strength to witness about Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, these believers prayed for three things. They prayed, “Look on their threats…grant to your servants”…<\/em>and then they prayed, “Stretch out your hand.”<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

30 <\/sup>\u00a0while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Lord, show your power. Demonstrate the power of the name of Jesus.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Show that Jesus is truly Messiah!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

They prayed. They prayed together. They prayed in one accord. They prayed in unity with the perfect will of God. And God answered. Boy, did He answer!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A PRATER OF CONSEQUENCE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

31 <\/sup>\u00a0And 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. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You know God is approving when the building shakes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“All were filled with the Holy Spirit.” <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Everybody there was filled with God’s power. This is one of seven times in the book of Acts where people are filled with the Holy Spirit, and each time has to do with ministry. The filling is for service.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And what was the ministry then?<\/strong><\/p>\n

“They continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

They kept on witnessing and witnessing powerfully. Not only the Apostles were filled with power, but hundreds of Christians were now filled with power to speak out the Word. An army of Christians was now empowered to tell about Jesus. And they did tell about Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Sanhedrin had tried to silence them. They had threatened them, trying to intimidate them. But now, instead of shutting up, they shouted out. The plan of the Sanhedrin had backfired. There was more witnessing about Jesus the Messiah than ever before. The whole city was filled with the message. Thousands heard it. The city was set aflame with the Gospel. The truth was magnified like never before.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That’s God.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And that’s what God can do with a believing church. That’s what God can do with a congregation that is unified and willing to serve Him. God can use His people to tell people the message that changes people. He can create an evangelism explosion.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The greatest purpose of the filling if the Holy Spirit is in telling the message of the Holy Spirit. We are filled to share. We are filled to explain. We are filled to testify.<\/strong><\/p>\n

These early Christians were not trained in Theology. They did not have education. They had little organization. And they had no certain method of evangelism. All they had was their own experience with Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to share that with others. And they did.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The filling of the Holy Spirit is always about power to serve God and share God. And as I seek to serve God and share God, the power of God can enter my life in a dynamic way. God fills vessels that are open to Him, who seek to be used by Him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s always a matter of me being open to be used. I don’t get more of God. He gets more of me.<\/strong><\/p>\n

These Christians submitted their lives to God’s purpose, sharing Christ’s message, no matter the cost. And look what happened.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acts 4:32-33 (ESV)
\n<\/strong>32 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
\n33 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. <\/span><\/p>\n

There was unity…(vs.32)<\/strong><\/p>\n

There was generosity…(vs. 32)<\/strong><\/p>\n

There was powerful preaching…(vs. 33)<\/strong><\/p>\n

There was a sense of Grace…(vs.33)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Look at what God can do with a congregation fully surrendered to Him. All this started with a prayer…the most important prayer the early church had ever prayed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But not only did their prayer bring about all these wonderful elements, it brought something else, too. It brought a fresh display of God’s power before all the city.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acts 5:12-16 (ESV)
\n<\/strong>12 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon\u201d\u2122s Portico.
\n13 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.
\n14 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
\n15 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
\n16 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Apostles did more miracles.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The church met openly at the Temple.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The city folk were both intimidated by them and attracted to them at the same time.<\/strong><\/p>\n

God used Peter as a special healer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The power of God was on display, and the whole area of Jerusalem knew it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This all occurred because of the prayer…the first prayer following the first\u00a0persecution.\u00a0How different things would have been if they had not prayed the way they did. How the history of Christianity would have been different. \u00a0How the world would have been different if these people had chosen to\u00a0hide in\u00a0fear. If they had followed the orders of the Sanhedrin, if they had stopped witnessing, how the world would have changed!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

But they didn’t stop. They prayed. They did not pray for safety. They prayed for strength. And God gave them strength. He gave them power. He turned them into excited evangelists. <\/strong><\/p>\n

And the Christian church today exists in part because of that prayer…the prayed that changed history!<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sermon by Rev. Richard Jones (No audio recording available due to technical problems)   THE FIRST PERSECUTION   Message 3: The Prayer That Changed History Acts:4 23-31   Acts 4:23-31 (ESV) 23 \u00a0When they were released, they went to their … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,24,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-messages","category-sermon-series","category-sermons-by-rev-jones"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3402"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3402"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3402\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3497,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3402\/revisions\/3497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}