Prayer is always the foundation for a move of the Holy Spirit. Last week we heard how we needed to be filled or baptised with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8, Jesus told the disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon on them. But it was not automatic. They needed to wait for this promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Their response was to not only wait but also to pray to receive the promise.
In Acts 1:14 we read “that they all joined together constantly in prayer”. From this verse we see some important keys to praying to see a move of the Holy Spirit in our lives, our church and our wider community.
1. Pray unitedly (Psalm 133:1-3; John 13:34-35; John 17:23; Acts 1:14; Matthew 18:20)
a. They prayed together in obedience
b. They prayed together with faithful people
c. They prayed together with a clear purpose
2. Pray continually (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:42; Luke 18:1; Matthew 7:7; Proverbs 28:20)
3. Pray with expectation (Luke 11:13; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4; Acts 2:38; Acts 2:17-18)
Apply
Are you praying in unity or is there division in your heart? Unity is strongly encouraged in the Bible (Psalm 133:1-3). Unity is what Jesus strongly emphasised to his disciples who were very different characters and who had sometimes fallen out with each other (John 13: 34-35). One of the last prayers of Jesus was about unity (John 17:23). And it was unity that laid the foundation for a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. In the weeks following his death and resurrection his followers closer came closer together, particularly so after His ascension. Acts 1:14 tells us that the 11 disciples, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers were all present together praying. Both men and women prayed in unity. Family unity was also very evident as the group who prayed for the Holy Spirit to come included Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. One of the best ways we can prepare for a new Pentecost is to develop the relationships we have with one another. Unity between Christians must cut across all divisions. There is so much power when we pray in unity as a church, in smaller groups and as families (Matthew 18:20). The first disciples prayed together in obedience: Jesus told them to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit and that’s what they did. Obedience is one of the most obvious signs of a real disciple. You can only unite in prayer with those who are really wanting to obey God and His Word, the Bible. They prayed together with faithful people: Judas was not in the prayer meeting. He had gone because of his betrayal of Jesus. Those who remained to pray were the faithful ones. And they prayed together with a clear purpose: They were specifically praying to experience the power of the Holy Spirit to come on them as Jesus had promised. That’s what we must do when we unite in prayer.
Are you persevering in prayer? Day after day before the day of Pentecost the group of around 120 disciples kept on praying (Acts 1:14). And that continued as the church grew rapidly (Acts 2:42). This culture of prayer as a lifestyle was something the disciples had learned from Jesus. Jesus prayed ALWAYS. His entire life was lived in close communion with His Father. Jesus told them a parable about a widow who persisted to get justice in order, as Luke 18:1 says, ‘to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.’ The amplified version brings out this emphasis of persevering prayer that Jesus taught (Matthew 7:7). It is easy to give up praying but we must not. Every day after Jesus left the earth the disciples were faithful and didn’t give up in prayer. We also need to be faithful just as the Bible says we should (Proverbs 28:20). To pray constantly requires determination and discipline and the help of the Holy Spirit but it is essential to receiving answers to prayer - and the disciples didn’t have to pray for many years but just ten days.
Are you expectant for a new move of the Holy Spirit in your life as you pray? The disciples had faith that the promise Jesus gave them about the Holy Spirit would be fulfilled. They were confident that they would not be disappointed (Luke 11:13). When we pray, we must believe. Expect that you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a sure promise from God (Acts 1:8). The promise of the Holy Spirit is open for all people (Acts 2:4) and all generations (Acts 2:38-39). It is for young people, older people, men, women and people of all nationalities (Acts 2:17-18). There is no heart too hard for the Holy Spirit to work. But you must pray. You must pray in unity with a good and faithful heart. You must pray continually and refuse to give up. You must pray expectantly (Acts 2:39). In this time of 10 days of prayer and fasting as a church we are praying specifically for a new empowering of the Holy Spirit. We cannot be content with a sprinkling of the Holy Spirit; we need the full immersion of the Holy Spirit. God wants all of us to enjoy the fullness of the Holy Spirit and to see incredible fruit in our lives and ministry. There is so much more to come. So right now start to pray in a new way.
