God & Man, We Are Together, but still not perfect like Him, WORK OF THE SPIRIT Brought Together, Shaken Up, Prepared For Our Purpose: To Be The Body Of Christ, His Presence in this world, and to through the power of the Holy Spirit: EXPAND HIS KINGDOM.
Recap: Spirit Given, Lame Beggar Healed, Gospel is Preached, Opposition pushes back, More Gospel Preached, and More Threats/Warnings given to the church to NOT preach about Jesus.
4 Needs Of The Church As We Pray For Boldness
#1: We need a posture of surrender to our Sovereign God (24-28)
Value of praying together (or in one accord): Listened to each other, they valued the same things, and they were united in vision, mission, and values.
This word Lord is not the usual word for Lord in the New Testament; it is the Greek word despotes. It was a word used of a slave owner or ruler who has power that cannot be questioned. They prayed with power and confidence because they knew God was in control.
John The Baptist: I must decrease, & He must increase.
Don’t miss that: Peter believed that the words of King David, recorded in Psalms 2, were actually the words of the Lord God, said by the mouth of King David. Peter had a high view of the Holy Scriptures.
Psalm 2-> David quote
Why do the Gentiles rage
and the peoples plot futile things?
26 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers assemble together
against the Lord and against his Messiah.
Servant Mindset -> Humility
Sovereignty Focus -> Peace
#2: We need to regularly ask for opportunities to speak the word boldly. (29)
Consider their threats-> You handle it Lord. We trust you. You are sovereign. We are not.
Grant that-> give us regular opportunities to connect with people and share the truth of God’s Word, and the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
#3: We need to build faith that God is able to accomplish anything. (30)
What did the early church believe God would accomplish:
A. Healing
B. Signs & Wonders
Summed Up: The early church had confidence that God could transform anyone or anything according to His Will.
How can we have this confidence? Our faith can be LIVING but should also we regularly under CONSTRUCTION.
How do we build our faith?
5 D’S of Faith Building
-Discover
-Decision
-Discipleship
-Depend
-Declare
#4: We need to be shaken & filled with the Spirit. (31)
Assembly: The value of the gathered church. Christian culture today has devalued the gathering. We need to be a part of the resurgence of placing a high priority and value on assembling together. Cf. Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching. –Hebrews 10:24-25 CSB
Shaken: the place where they were assembled was shaken…
Physically: God’s affirming of their sincere hearts, and assurance that He heard their prayers and is with them.
Spiritually: God’s movement within our hearts and minds through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Shake Up Conviction
Fill Up Provision
Power Up-> Completion
COMPLETION CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK THROUGH HIS LIFE ON THIS EARTH. SO THAT WE WOULD BE MADE COMPLETE.
PEACE-> SHALOM FOUNDATION FOR BOLDNESS
