Be Careful What You Pray For / Acts 4:23-31

Are we a church that prays...or a praying church.

• The difference: the former uses prayer as an activity; the latter lives and breathes
through prayer and the resulting connection with God.
• Two stories to illustrate

The early church was a praying church.

• They were constantly in prayer (Acts 1:14) while they waited for Jesus to deliver power
through the Holy Spirit (1:8).
• They prayed over leadership decisions (1:23-26).
• They prayed on the day of Pentecost (2:1; "together in one place" implies prayer; 1:14).
• They were devoted to prayer (among other things; 2:42).
• Their leaders prayed, and were consistent with prayer (3:1; went to the temple "at the
time of prayer").
• After their leaders were arrested and released...they prayed (4:24)!
• They prayed before appointing more leaders (6:6).
• And these descriptions all occur before the church was even dispersed (8:1)!

The early church gives us an example of what it means to be a praying church instead of
simply a church that prays. But how do we make that transition? How do we move from being
a church that merely uses prayer to becoming a church that lives by prayer? To do so, prayer
must become an experience for us.

The early church experienced prayer (Acts 4:23-31).

• Does a lot of prayer mean we are a praying church? No--it is our attitude in prayer that
determines whether we are a praying church.
• We need to learn from the early church. We need to go beyond our present use of
prayer and begin experiencing it. The early church give us help in 4:23-31.
• They prayed together (4:24). We need more "praying together" in our church. Prayer
brings us together and breaks down barriers of separation.
• They prayed to "Sovereign Lord." (4:24) Prayer helps us recognize whose we are and
pray for HIS will, not ours (4:25-28).

© 2010 Jeremy Hoover / www.jeremyhoover.com / jeremy@jeremyhoover.com

 Be Careful What You Pray For / Acts 4:23-31

• They prayed for boldness to speak the message without fear (4:29). Prayer helps us see
the purpose God has for us (the church).
• They prayed so seriously that they physically felt the presence of God (4:31; "the place
they were meeting was shaken"). When was the last time you were "shaken" in prayer?
• They prayed for God to move in their world (4:30). Prayer helps us to see the
opportunities around us where God can work.

God answers the church that lives, breathes, and experiences prayer.
• God answered them--he filled them with his Spirit and shook their meeting place (31);
he enabled them to speak with boldness (33); and he worked his grace among them
(33-34).
• Do we believe God will answer our prayers?

Will we be merely a church that prays...or will we become a praying church?

A CHURCH THAT PRAYS:

Prays about what it does.
Fits prayer in.
Prays when there are problems.
Announces a special time of prayer—some in the church show up.
Asks God to bless what it is doing.
Is frustrated by financial shortfall—backs down from projects.
Is tired, weary, stressed out.
Does things within its means.
Sees its members as its parish.
Is involved in the work of man.

A CHURCH DEVOTED TO PRAYER:

Does things by prayer.
Gives prayer priority.
Prays when there are opportunities.
Announces a special time of prayer—the church shows up.

© 2010 Jeremy Hoover / www.jeremyhoover.com / jeremy@jeremyhoover.com

 Be Careful What You Pray For / Acts 4:23-31

Asks God to enable it to do what He is blessing.

Is challenged by financial short-fall—calls for fasting, prayer, and faith.
Mounts up with wings like eagles, runs and doesn’t grow weary, walks and does not faint.
Does things beyond its means.
Sees the world as its parish.
Is involved in the work of God.

© 2010 Jeremy Hoover / www.jeremyhoover.com / jeremy@jeremyhoover.com