Sunday, November 20, 2016

"United Prayer" (Acts 4:23-31)


Context



At the beginning of chapter 3, Peter and John, now filled with the Holy Spirit, came across a man (more than forty years old) who had been lame from birth. This man was begging at the temple gate. Peter said to the man, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk” (3:6). Peter then took him by the hand and lifted him up – and this man felt his feet and ankles become strong. He began to walk, and entered the temple … “walking and leaping and praising God” (3:8).



This all attracted a bit of a crowd, whereby Peter was able to speak. Peter identified God as the One who had made this miracle happen. But he also pointed out that it was faith in the resurrected Jesus that had enabled Peter and John to be God’s channel of healing to this man; and by the way … this was the same Jesus that the people had largely, just recently, rejected and caused to be crucified. The gathered people could not deny that God was working, because they saw the healed man right before them. So this Jesus was God’s long-promised Messiah, and the people heard that they should repent and turn to God for forgiveness. Many ‘believed’ in Jesus that day – about five thousand (4:4).



Now you would imagine that someone was going to get upset with talk like this, especially given the response! This was revolutionary stuff. As chapter 4 unfolds, Peter and John were arrested (by the ruling religious authorities). At the inquiry that followed, Peter again stated that the good outcome for the formerly lame man had come about through the name of Jesus – whom they had crucified, and God had vindicated through resurrection. And now this Jesus is the path to salvation.



The ruling authorities were amazed that these ordinary two men could talk with such boldness. And they could not deny the miracle because there had been so many witnesses. The only thing they could try to do was to silence Peter and John! They could not let this news spread, for it would really upset the apple-cart … it must be contained. Peter and John were ordered not to mention the name of Jesus again. But they refused – Peter and John saying that they could not help but talk about all they had seen and heard; basically saying that they would accept any consequences. As they had only done good, Peter and John had to be released; but they were once again threatened!



What to do?



Under these circumstances, what should Peter and John do now? What would they do? What would we do? We could also feel threatened about sharing the Gospel. Despite wanting to, we could feel uncomfortable about standing out for Jesus. We could even feel reticent to help somebody, if this would bring us under some sort of criticism or attack i.e. standing up for a minority against the majority. Under these circumstances what should we do? Under any threat where should we go?



First, Peter and John re-joined their support community. This was translated here as their “friends” (4:23) … the original Greek indicates that Peter and John went to their “own”!? We could see this as their spiritual community (their church), with as many of the original disciples, and the early and recent converts who were resident close-by. This was their ‘close-circle’ or tight-body’. There they shared what had happened to them, the good and the not-so-good.



There then seemed to be an instant and immediate response from this spiritual community – verse 24 – “when they heard it, they raised their voices together to God …”!! Prayer! Together!! Prayer wasn’t a last resort, nor an after-thought; but rather a natural first action! The seriousness of the situation, combined with their sense of dependence on God, drew them spontaneously to prayer. And they were clearly “together” not only physically, but also spiritually … of ‘one heart and one mind’.



What Prayer? What did they pray?



The prayer starts partway through verse 24 and goes through to verse 30. It’s basic thrust is seeking a free-sharing of the Gospel message despite any impediment (especially political ones). There are elements of praise, reflection, intercession and assurance. For prayer is simply a deep conversation with God (including all of the known factors impinging on the situation at hand). This prayer may have been recited by one, with others adding their ‘Amen’. Or, maybe others in the room were repeating back each sentence as it was delivered by a leader. Or, maybe different people were adding their little bit as the prayer went along. Or, there may have been a variety of voices and prayers going on, and the one that is recorded here is just typical of what was prayed that day.



But clearly there were the basic elements of prayer including:

·        the acknowledgement of the greatness of God (v.24b),

·        the understanding that God had spoken in the past about strong opposition, including against Jesus (citing one of David’s famous psalms – #2 within v.25-28),

·        acknowledging the current threat to God’s servants – that could affect safety and well-being … possibly leading to losing heart or giving in to fear (v.29a),

·        requesting God to intervene … encouraging boldness and the performing of ‘signs’ (v.29b), and,

·        embracing the assurance that God would respond outstandingly (v.30).

Surely these five components would also be relevant components of our prayers today!

There were expressions of praise, reflection, intercession and faith!!



There had always been opposition to God’s ways, as we see in David’s psalm quoted here; and now in Peter’s time, this has been particularly focussed on God’s Messiah Jesus. Yet God will always have the last say; and when all the rulers and the people threw every evil imaginable at Jesus, God brought about his resurrection, and also, the redemption of all the world’s willing. So in this prayer, there is this great assurance that God can change anything toward the good. The worst intentions of world leaders and all humanity can be turned around. And God will have the victory!



Sometimes I prefer to watch my football team play … only after the match is already over and I know we have one. In this way, no matter how badly they kick for goal, or no matter what set-backs occur, I can still watch it with joy … because in the end we win. We can live this life in joy, because we know that, in the end, God will win! Fair to say as well, that the majority of this prayer has that necessary and complete focus on God (with expressions of faith and confidence), which also keeps us in the positive!



We should note also, that this prayer does not ask for the threat to be removed. I wonder why not?! Nor is there any desire expressed to avenge anyone – for the disciples had learned well from Jesus’ teaching. The good news from the word of God was for everyone to embrace, even past and current opponents. Also, there was no request for an easier life. This prayer merely asks God to “look at their threats” (v.29a), or, in other words, for God to ‘know that we are living under pressure’. I wonder why? Is there the sense of inevitability … if you serve Jesus, that means opposition. Or, could it be that threats and opposition … actually set the scene for the most faithful expression of mission and ministry in the world!?



How many of us rush to prayer when things are going well for us (even if they are not for the largely unseen)?! History tells us that the church grows best in number and integrity under persecution. We have to prayerfully deal with threat, be undeterred by opposition, and share the gospel with boldness, just like this text says. And being under some level of opposition may prove that we are having some degree of effectiveness … against some of those principalities and powers that are oppressing people. Thus enduring opposition creatively … can actually advance the purposes of God.



Why Prayer?



Why doesn’t God just do what he wants? God could just make it happen! Why does God stand back, or wait for our prayers?? Why do we need to pray at all? It’s not that we have to convince God of anything he doesn’t already know! It’s just the way God has set up the world. God desires our prayers. We have freewill to seek relationship with God, or ignore him. But God desperately seeks relationship with people, and the purpose of prayer is part of that. Prayer offers a mode of communication between us and God. And through this communication, we can grow in trust and faith, and better know and understand God’s ways.



So if building our relationship with God is the first reason for the need for prayer, what is the second??? God could work alone, but chooses to work through people. God gives the Holy Spirit, so that the life and ministry of Jesus can go forward through us. Thus the second reason for prayer is: partnering with God. God wants to bring us on board with his plans, and use us as channels of blessing to others and the world in general. And God wants to know that we are ready to participate in His Kingdom, through our willingness to sit down and dialogue with Him!



But sometimes we still don’t pray!!



God calls us to prayer, so he knows we are committed to the same outcomes as he is. As we come sincerely to prayer, in the midst of the threats that surround us – what will God do – verse 30 – stretch out His hand to heal … and "signs and wonders" are performed through the name of Jesus. Prayer in some mysterious and magnificent way, releases God’s best intentions. Divine help is near! God is waiting for us to put up our hand and commit to partner with him in bringing out his purposes. And, as was the case for Peter and John, it is "signs" of God’s activity … that give us even more opportunity to speak.



So when frustrations build about the state of things, and while we are considering worthy practical responseswe can ... NO, MUST ... utilise prayer to focus ourselves correctly. Whatever injustice is concerning us, we know that God saw the suffering first. If we can engage with God in prayer, and grow in Him, then we can also wisely partner with God in contributing to the solution.



The Outcome



The church community, that Peter and John were part of, prayed, and something big happened (v.31)! When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together for prayer … “was shaken”! The room ‘shook’ … with the power of God – this tells us that God was present in a mighty way. Psalm 114:7 reads “Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord”. All of those gathered were “filled with the Holy Spirit”. This is NOT to say that they hadn’t been already, but that it was very evident that they had been, and the power of the Holy Spirit was definitely apparent in their praying. And if anyone had missed the Pentecost blessing, they were getting it now.



And the grace-filled truths of the scriptures, were just popping out of their mouths – the good news about Jesus just could not be restrained! In this way, in the face of threats and opposition, the faithful people’s prayers were ANSWERED!! It wasn’t so much that a particular prayer point was resolved, but just the very presence of God was so mightily experienced, that the opposition seemed particularly irrelevant. In this way, we can maintain our joy, despite the difficulties we face. And God was about to provide "signs and wonders" to accompany the sharing of the gospel.



A little later, in Acts 5:12, we read, “Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles”. While there may be miraculous healings, those "signs and wonders" today are likely to include extraordinary offerings of mercy, forgiveness and compassion across the tide of normal indifference. These are the "signs and wonders" that God will work through the hearts and hands of his people. This will include radical and random acts of generosity, hospitality and kindness … that automatically point beyond the human … toward Creator God.



Together!



The blessing of the Holy Spirit seems to happen most when God’s people are communicating with Him “together”. So let us make the best of the opportunities we have to pray “together”; and find some new occasions as well. When we gather in large and small groupings, let’s find ways of acknowledging that we have both a higher power and a higher purpose! Let’s focus firmly on God and His Will and His Ways, and thus find our way forward … come what may. In that context, let us seek from God what we think we need, and listen well for what God wants to give us in response.



Postscript



I’m learning that prayer “together” fuels better and wiser ways of communicating and acting in response to the world’s needs. But that is for next week.

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