Some sixty years ago, one bitter January night, the inhabitants of the old town of Schleswig were thrown into the greatest distress and terror. A hostile army was marching down upon them, and new and fearful reports of the conduct of the lawless soldiers were hourly reaching the place.
In one large, spacious cottage dwelt an aged grandmother with her widowed daughter and her grandson. While all hearts quaked with fear, this aged woman passed her time in crying out to God that he would "build a wall of defense round about" them, quoting the words of an ancient hymn.
Her grandson asked why she prayed for a thing so entirely impossible as that God should build a wall about their house, that should hide it; but she explained that her meaning only was that God should protect them.
At midnight the dreaded tramp was heard, an enemy came pouring in at every avenue, filling the houses to overflowing. But, while most fearful sounds were heard on every side, not even a knock came to their door; at which they were greatly surprised. The morning light made the matter clear; for, just beyond the house, the drifted snow had reared such a massive wall that it was impossible to get over it to them.
"There!" said the good woman triumphantly: "do you not see, my son, that God could raise up a wall around us?"
Although many of our prayers are not answered so dramatically, we would have to say that the aged grandmother was like the early Christian church – she believed in and practiced the power of prayer.
This is now the fifth sermon on what a Spirit-filled church looks like. Today, we have to say that a Spirit-filled church is a praying church.
I Devoted to Prayer
A Scripture tells us that the early church members "devoted themselves ... to prayer." Again, the Greek word for "devote" means "to be loyal to someone; to diligently occupy oneself with something." In other words, those early Spirit-filled Christians spent time and effort on their prayer. It wasn't on again, off again, as our prayer so often is. The were persistent, constant, and continuous in their prayer. I think of the time Peter was about to be killed by King Herod. Though it was the middle of the night, his fellow believers had gathered together to pray for him (Acts 12:12).
Topic: Prayer
Subtopic: Exhortations to
Index: 2841
Date: 10/1992.13
Title:
Early African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in private devotions. Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time the paths to these places became well worn. As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, "Brother, the grass grows on your path."
-- Today in the Word, Moody Bible Institute, 6-29-92
In the church of Acts none of the believers had grass growing on their path – because they devoted themselves to prayer.
Which leaves me wondering, how do we measure up? Would grass, does grass, grow on our path? Are we faithful and regular in prayer? Are we devoted to prayer like those early Christians?
B Those early Spirit-filled Christians didn't quit, they didn't give up, they didn't stop when they did not get an answer right away. They prayed, and they kept on praying, for an answer. They were persistent in prayer like the woman of Jesus' parable was persistent in asking a judge for justice (Luke 18). They listened and waited patiently for God's answer:
Topic: Prayer
Subtopic: Causes of Failure in
Index: 2820
Date: 8/1987.10
Title: Don't Change Channels!
When her husband, Edmund Gravely, died at the controls of his small plane while on the way to Statesboro, GA, from the Rocky Mount-Wilson airport, NC, his wife Janice kept the plane aloft for two hours until it ran out of fuel. During this time she sang hymns and prayed for help. As the plane crossed the South Carolina-North Carolina border, she radioed for help: "Help, help, won't someone help me? My pilot is unconscious. Won't somebody help me?" Authorities who picked up her distress signal were not able to reach her by radio during the flight because she kept changing channels. Mrs. Gravely finally made a rough landing and crawled for 45 minutes to a farmhouse for help.
How often God's people cry out for help to God, but switch channels before God's message comes through. They turn to other sources for help, looking for human help. But when those first Christians cried out for help, they didn't switch the channels.
As Spirit-filled people those early Christians devoted themselves to prayer.
II Four Kinds of Prayers
A An examination of the book of Acts and early church records tell us that the early church had four kinds of prayers. First, they offered free spontaneous prayers. I think here of the time Peter and John were released from prison. When the believers heard their report "they raised their voices together in prayer" (Acts 4:24). They couldn't help but respond in prayer and praise to the great and mighty acts of God.
B Second, Paul's letter to Corinth informs us that the early Christians offered what can only be called charismatic prayers. Even as some of the early believers spoke in tongues, so also they prayed in tongues. Paul doesn't condemn such prayers, but he warns – as with tongue speaking – that an interpreter must be present if such a prayer is done in public (1 Cor 14:13,14).
C Third, we know from Justin Martyr that the early Christians often prayed the prayer Christ Himself taught them – the Lord's Prayer. I hope that we continue in this tradition by also praying the Lord's Prayer.
D Fourth, in their prayer life the early Christians often took Old Testament Psalms and offered them to God as their prayer. I often do this in my office and for my congregational prayers – I take one of the psalms and use it as the basis for my praise and thanksgiving to God in prayer. None of us can go wrong in using the majestic words and thoughts of these early servants of God. In fact, I would recommend that here too you follow the tradition of the early church.
Four kinds of prayers – used not only in public but also in private, not only in worship but also in personal devotions. Again I say, those early Spirit-filled Christians devoted themselves to prayer.
III Attributes of Prayer
A It is also instructive to note how those early Spirit-filled Christians prayed. We see in chapter 4 that their prayers were raised to the Sovereign Lord (Acts 4:24). In the Greek the word is "Despot s" – we get our English word "despot" from this. A despot, as you know, is an absolute ruler, a king with unlimited powers. Among men, at least, a despot usually acts like a tyrant. King Herod was a despot – consider how he killed the baby boys of Bethlehem; or, consider how he killed his own brothers, sisters, and children because he saw them as a threat to his rule. The Sanhedrin acted like despots in their dealings with Jesus and the apostles – they dared to condemn the innocent to death, to wrongly confiscate the goods and property of Christians. At that time and place in the world of men the power of despots was absolute and beyond challenge. But the early Spirit-filled church raised her prayers to the "despot" in heaven, to the Sovereign Lord. Here was an acknowledgment that over the rulers of men stands a Higher Ruler or Power. Here was an acknowledgment that the edicts of men cannot overturn the decrees of Almighty God. Those early Spirit-filled Christians came to God in prayer, then, realizing that all depends upon Him and lays in His hands.
B We also see in chapter 4 that in their prayer life those early Spirit-filled believers filled their minds with God. They began their prayers by thinking of God: His being, His attributes, His ways, His blessings. It is only after they came to God with their praises and thanksgivings that they began to think of their needs. God came first, then their petitions (Acts 4:24f).
We can learn from this because all too often in our prayer life we come to God as prayer beggars rather than as praise givers. "Give me, Give me, Give me," is our constant refrain. Or, "Bless me, Bless me, Bless me." But those early Spirit-filled Christians began by saying,
(Acts 4:24) Sovereign Lord, you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant ...
To keep your prayer life well-balanced, like that of the early Christians, all that you have to do is think of the word "ACTS" when you pray:
"A" stands for Adoration – of God
"C" stands for Confession – of your sins
"T" stands for Thanksgiving – for blessings
"S" stands for Supplication – for your needs
In devoting themselves to prayer, then, those early Spirit-filled Christians paid attention to when they prayed, what they prayed, to whom they prayed, and also to how they prayed. You see, Spirit-filled people devoted to prayer leave nothing about prayer to chance.
IV Powerful Prayer
A I have yet to mention the most significant detail Scripture gives us about the prayers of those early Spirit-filled Christians. Listen to these words of chapter 4:
(Acts 4:31) After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.
I always have a hard time imagining the scene. The Christians prayed and the building literally shook on its foundations.
In the Old Testament a shaking like this signified the presence and voice of God. I think of the time when the people of Israel met with God at Mt. Sinai. Scripture says,
(Ex 19:18) Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently ... (cf Is 6:3-4)
As in the Old Testament, the shaking in front of us signifies the presence and voice of God. It means God was there, that He both heard and answered their prayers. It means He filled them again with His Spirit. It means He poured His miraculous, wonder-working power into them.
B Though this building may not shake, we have the assurance that God hears and answers our prayers even as He heard and answered the prayers of those early Spirit-filled Christians.
A pastor in England told his young sons about a missionary who had gone from their church to far-off Sri Lanka. He described the hardships she would experience and told how she would often encounter poisonous snakes. Freddie, who was only 5, kept thinking about those dangerous reptiles. That night during his bedtime prayer, his father heard him say in a quivering voice, "O dear God, please take care of Miss Price. Keep her safe from those snakes." The power of the child's intercessory prayer was soon demonstrated. For as the missionary was returning from a meeting one day, she saw lurking across her path a small but very deadly snake. Within striking range and with its head raised, the serpent was poised for the attack. Then suddenly it fled into the long grass. How she thanked the Lord for her deliverance! Some time later the mail brought this word from her pastor: "Little Fred never forgets to pray for you. Two Sundays ago he asked the Lord most earnestly to keep you from being harmed by the snakes!" She discovered that it was the exact day she had almost been killed.
Those early Spirit-filled Christians prayed with power. They prayed in the expectation that God hears and answers. And, they felt and saw and experienced those answers.
C This is not to say that the prayer life of the early church was perfect in every way. I think of the time they were praying for Peter. They prayed hard. They prayed with sincerity. God heard them and sent an angel to release Peter from prison; remember how the guards were put to sleep, how Peter's chains fell off, how the angel led him out of the prison? When Peter showed up at the doors to the house where prayer for his deliverance was being made, he had difficulty gaining entrance. The miracle of his rescue was so great it was inconceivable. Those early Christians just didn't expect God to answer that soon and in that way. They failed to recognize their answered prayer when it stared them in the face (Acts 12).