How Do We Pray In The Midst of Trials? (Acts 4:23-31)

VIDEO

How Do We Pray In The Midst of Trials? (AM Sermon Notes)

GIST: Remember who God is and praise Him; trust the truth of His Word to still speak; ask for boldness to proclaim Him; long for Him to move in the lives of others, and expect Him to answer.

SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:23-31

Today, we’re continuing our discussion of Acts chapter 4. Last week, we saw Peter and John arrested. The pretense for the arrest was their healing of a man born lame. The real reason was because the religious elite did not want them teaching on the resurrection of Jesus nor His salvation. Despite the intimidating nature of their trial, they stood firm and allowed the Holy Spirit to boldly proclaim the Gospel, the truth of Jesus’ salvation. The religious elite were left unable to deny what they said. However, choosing blindness over boldness, they commanded Peter and John not to speak any more about Jesus. Peter and John responded with… “We have to. We’re going to obey God, not man.”

The situation wasn’t good, but God was, and His apostles stood firm for Him. This morning we’re going to pick up with what happened after this scene.

“23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'-- 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

In the face of trials, they prayed. That in itself is a point we should take away this morning. They didn’t panic. They didn’t whine. They didn’t hide. They prayed. We should do the same. This morning, I want to take just a few minutes to look at specifically what they prayed to see what we can learn about how we too should pray...even when our situations seem bleak. The gist? It’s a long one☺️→  Remember who God is and praise Him; trust the truth of His Word to still speak; ask for boldness to proclaim Him; long for Him to move in the lives of others, and expect Him to answer.  

So the first thing we see is that→

I. They Remembered The Truth About God and Praised Him For It.

The prayer opens by zeroing in on a central truth→

God is Sovereign (23-24). The ESV translation here really hits the nail on the head. They address God as the Sovereign Lord. The Greek word used implies absolute ownership or uncontrollable power. THIS IS HUGE! (←Hence, my use of all caps☺️.) We serve the one, true God who is capable of everything. Man, what better way to start our prayers than remembering this truth and keeping this perspective? Last week, I heard Skip Heitzig ask, “Do we pray as a last resort hoping--on an off chance--it might work, and He might be able to cope with our requests?” This is a great point! Too often, we come to God in prayer without faith. We just do it because it’s what we do. However, we’re not really expecting it to make a difference. Our prayers become nothing more than a way to voice our concerns rather than a means of communicating to our all powerful loving Savior!

Remember how Jesus taught us to pray? “Our Father, who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your name…”. His place is powerful. (He rules from Heaven!) His person is perfect. (He is completely holy.) And… we can call Him Father! The God who can is the God who loves.  Honestly, if we could just wrap our minds around that truth this morning, our lives would be completely changed.

After starting with this truth, they move to this next observation→

Scripture Has Authority And Speaks to Present Reality (25-28). Look back at verses 25-28. “25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'-- 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”

Really, this works to further emphasizes God’s Sovereignty. Basically, this could be summarized as: You said it would happen...and it has happened...because You’re completely in control! Did you catch that development? They looked at what God’s Word said would happened. Then, they looked around at what had just happened. And, as devastating as it was, acknowledged that this was according to His plan and predetermined purpose!

I want to spend some more time developing this in our takeaways. For now, let’s just note how important it is to remember this perspective when praying. Our God is more than capable, and His Word is always true, and always relevant, and always powerful.

By proclaiming these truths, they are also praising. They aren’t just reciting doctrine; they are praising the Sovereign God! So they started here. Then→

II. They Prayed To Have More Boldness To Make Him More Known.

They Prayed For Personal Boldness to Proclaim Truth (29). Look at verse 29, “29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,”. They don’t ignore the outside pressures that are coming against them. However, rather than rage about the injustice of it all, they leave it in God’s hands! In essence they say, “Lord, You take care of that and just give us the boldness to just keep telling people about You despite it!” Do you see this? They have just been arrested and forced to stand against the most powerful religious institution in this culture. They know that the persecution is just getting started. Yet, they pray not for deliverance from their hardships, but for boldness to continue to point to Jesus in the midst of them! It’s just like what Jesus said in the high priestly prayer. “15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:15-18) They trust God to take care of the details of their physical situation, but focus their prayers on: “don’t let us go back to how we were--scared and scattered. Instead, make us bold!”

So, they prayed to be bold in their proclaiming of the truth→

And For Jesus To Continue To Change Lives. Look at verse 29 & 30 together. The heart behind this prayer is so incredibly humbling and so incredibly convicting! “29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” This is Grace! They have been transformed by Jesus, so even in the midst of persecution they pray for more boldness to point people to Jesus, so they too can be transformed by Him! They want to see lives changed by the Gospel! This is a bigger concern than their personal trials. Man, I need this perspective!

So, we see their focus. They remembered who God is and prayed for Him to move in their lives and the lives of others. And then→

III. He Answered.

We won’t spend much time here. Just look at verse 31 and let it sink in! “31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” They prayed for God to move...and He did. This is a beautiful thing. They sought His face...and He revealed Himself. They wanted what He wants. Their wills were conformed to His, and they got exactly what they needed!

TAKEAWAYS

So, how do we pray in the midst of trials? Honestly, we pray like we should be praying out of them, as well!

1. Start by remembering who God is--our Sovereign, loving God--and praise Him! Remember the Sunday School song “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”? Yeah, He does!

2. Trust in the truth of His Word to still speak to our present reality. Let’s take this home a little bit in closing. Because God is Sovereign, God’s Word is what you need...all the time. Let’s just consider a few common experiences and look at just a few ways His Word still speaks to them.

Suffering?

Stand Firm→ "10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."(Matthew 5:10-12)

Be Strengthen→ "29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:29-31)

Find Peace→ "33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Look at that...two weeks in a row☺️!

Rejoicing?

Remember The Source!→ “17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)

Tired?

Don’t Give Up→ "9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

Find True Rest→ "28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

Afraid?

Keep Perspective→ "4...He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4b)

Confused?

Seek His Wisdom→ "5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5)

Seek His Face→ "33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

Trust His Direction→ "5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

We could keep going. His Word speaks.

3. Ask for boldness to proclaim Him. I was listening to Stuart Olyott a few weeks back, who is a pastor I have really gleaned a lot from lately, and he made this observation: “Don’t pray for boldness unless you really want to receive it.” He makes a great point. We’re not just trying to pump ourselves up here, we’re asking to be used by God, which means we must be ready for that to actually happen!

4. Long for Him to move in the lives of others! May we all be daily convicted by this desire! If we truly love, we will long for others to experience the true love of God!

5. Expect Him to answer. Prayer is not just something we do. It is real, active, and powerful. It is talking to the Sovereign God of the universe who died to save us from our Hell-bound natures!