Acts and the power of prayer
I’m continuing my journey through Acts. Some initial thoughts on the place of prayer in a movement of disciples and churches.
They prayed expecting
In the garden of Gethsemene, the disciples slept while Jesus prayed. When the trial came they deserted him and fled.
Now before Pentecost, the disciples gather in the upper room transformed by Jesus’ victory and the promise of the Spirit, “and they all joined together constantly in prayer (Acts 1:14). They pray because Jesus has restored them and commanded them to be his witnesses throughout the world. They pray, not to summon up the Spirit, they pray because the Spirit is coming and when the Spirit comes, the mission will begin.
A people of prayer
The first church is a praying community. As they wait for the coming of the Spirit they gather in the upper room and pray. Luke tells us, “They all joined together constantly in prayer” (1:14). Right from the start he establishing that this is typical of their life together as disciples.
And so the first church is a praying community. Prayer is an expression of their unity. In the first description of church life Luke notes that they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. The disciples meet in one another’s homes and in the temple courts and they give thanks, they worship and they pray. This is a summary statement of church life. We are meant to see in this a pattern that is repeated, not just in Jerusalem but wherever we find communities of disciples. They prayed.
When the disciples farewell Paul, they gather around, they kneel, they pray and they weep (Acts 20: 36; 21:5-6).
Over thirty times in Acts, we find the disciples at prayer. Most of these references are in the first half of the book. Luke doesn’t need to keep repeating himself, once the pattern is set he assumes we’ll fill in the gaps.
Prayer and the plan of God
They pray because this is one true God who is the Creator and Lord of history and the Father of his people. God is always at work to bring salvation and reveal his glory, his plans will be fulfilled.
Jesus’ disciples are the end-time people of God, the inheritors of all God’s promises to Israel and called to be his witnesses throughout the world.
They pray because they are dependent on God for the progress of his mission in the world. Only God can convince people of the truth of the gospel. Only God can confirm his Word in power. Only God can change the human heart.
Follow the Leader
Disciples are "those who call upon the name" of Jesus. The prayers the church offers are now centred on Jesus. He is at the Savior, the author of life, the one who grants repentance and forgiveness, the coming Judge. He is the giver of the Holy Spirit. The church as been bought with his blood. There is no salvation, but through him. Discipleship begins by calling on his name.
They draw on his teaching and example in prayer. The Spirit descended upon Jesus as he prayed at his baptism. As the disciples prayed the Spirit fell at Pentecost. Jesus prayed all night before appointing the Twelve. The disciples prayed before choosing Matthias. As Jesus prayed on the cross that his enemies would be forgiven, before he dies Stephen cries, Lord do not hold his sin against them. As Jesus committed his spirit to the Father, so Stephen, the first martyr calls out to the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit.
They prayed as they followed Jesus in obedience to the Father’s will.
Experiencing the power of God
The Lord is present with his people through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit applies the work of Christ to the life of the believer bringing cleansing from sin and transformation of character and power for witness.
The Spirit enables visions, dreams, prophetic words, unknown tongues and wisdom which guide the disciples in their life and mission. Through prayer the lame walk; Tabitha was restored to life; Publius’ father was healed; and the gospel spread to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear (Acts 3:1-12; 9:40; 14:8; 28:8). Paul prayed and fasted before appointing church leaders, yet he could say to the Ephesian elders they were appointed by the Holy Spirit.
A leadership priority
Prayer is linked with the selection and commissioning of leaders (Acts 1:24-25; 6:6; 13:1-3; 14:23). As Jesus prayed all night before choosing the Twelve, the disciples pray before choosing Judas’ replacement. When the Spirit set apart Paul and Barnabas for the work the church at Antioch sent them off with prayer and fasting. At the completing of the work, Paul and Barnabas pray and fast before appointing elders to the new churches.
When the apostles are overwhelmed with needs within the community they appoint additional leaders so they can make prayer and the spread of the Word their highest priority. Acts is about the spread of God’s powerful Word, yet prayer must accompany the Word for the messengers are dependant upon the Lord for boldness, protection and open hearts.
Praying under pressure
Like Jesus, Stephen prays to surrender his spirit to the Father as he faces death. Like Jesus he prayed that his murderers would be forgiven. When Peter is under arrest, at great risk, the church gathers to pray for his release. When Paul and Silas are beaten and thrown into prison, at midnight they are awaking and praying and singing to God as the other prisoners listen.
After Peter and John were released from arrest, the disciples raise their voices together and pray. Their prayer is grounded in the character and power of God revealed in Scripture. They pray in the power of the Spirit using the words of Scripture spoken by the Holy Spirit. They pray not for peace and safety, but for boldness. They house is shaken and they are all fill with the Holy Spirit and they speak the word of God boldly.
They pray expecting God to act, they pray committing themselves to obey his will despite the dangers.
Breakthrough prayer
Prayer plays a part at every major turning point in the story of the gospel’s advance. God fulfils his plans and promises as his people pray—the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost; the martyrdom of Stephen which led to the gospel going out from Jerusalem; the Spirit falling upon the Samaritans; Peter’s conversion to the Gentile mission began when he was at prayer in Joppa and Cornelius was at prayer in Caesarea; the release of Peter from prison and execution; the healing, baptism and commissioning of Paul by Ananias; the launch of the mission to the Gentiles out of Antioch led by Paul and Barnabas; when the mission is successful the appointment of leaders for the churches; Paul’s call to bear witness before the emperor in Rome.
Conclusion
The disciples prayed because that’s what Jesus did and what he taught them to do. They prayed because their lives were aligned with God’s purposes. They prayed because the Lord rules over heaven and earth and hears the cries of his people. They prayed because God’s will is revealed in prayer and in prayer their wills become aligned with God’s. They pray because God is with them as the Word goes out from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
