The book of Acts shows the beginning of the newborn church, how they received the Holy Spirit and entered into a New Covenant with God. We also find the new prayer life of the believers after they had received the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ who made His disciples “men of prayer.” (Jesus Christ made “prayer warriors”) We will study how the first Church experienced amazing victories through prayer. We first discover that the first Church was born through praying the Word and the promise of God.
The book of Acts starts with the Lord Jesus Christ speaking about the Kingdom of God with His disciples for forty days. The disciples were looking for the restoration of Israel, but the Lord Jesus Christ had come to restore the Kingdom of God on the earth. The restoration of the Kingdom of God started with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;
Christ commanded the disciples to wait on the promise of the Father. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual Kingdom that arrived as a dove. The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Rom. 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
PRAYERS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
After our Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, His disciples prayed together in the upper room. They devoted themselves to prayer after the Lord Jesus Christ gave them the promise of the Holy Spirit to come upon them. They took the Lord on His word and prayed till the Holy Spirit came. The disciples continued to pray, and the FIRE fell. If we get a promise from the Lord, we should pray until we get it. We should take God's promises in faith through prayer.
Acts 1:24-25 And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place."
There was an empty spot, which had to be filled. The disciples were looking for God's leading. They didn't look at which one had the highest education or the biggest bank account. They also didn't look at who had the best connections. The disciples submitted themselves to the Lord, and so Matthias was chosen. What a submission to the Lord!
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The first church set an example; they "devoted" themselves to four subjects: doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. These four subjects should be the foundation of every church that wants to be supernaturally fruitful. The believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and devoted themselves to prayer. (And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47)
Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
Peter and John went to the prayer meeting, which is a good habit. This prayer meeting started at 15:00, and they had no regret going to the prayer meeting. We can read in the book of Acts chapter three how Peter healed a lame man who was begging in front of the temple. This miracle caused a big revival, and many people were saved. Don’t give up on your prayer meetings! Your prayer meeting can be the beginning of planting a new church.
Acts 4:29-31 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
The Apostles gave with great boldness their testimonies of their faith in Jesus Christ before the leaders of Israel, and they were asking God for boldness again. God is the one who gives us boldness to speak about Jesus Christ. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we can't stop speaking what we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:20) God answered their prayer and gave them the boldness to speak. The signs and wonders they asked God for also came. GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!
Acts 5:12-16 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Acts 5:3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
Ananias had made a promise to God, and that is a prayer to God. Ananias didn't keep his promise and even lied to the Holy Spirit about it. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed--5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. (Eccl. 5:4-5) Jephthah also had this experience: “For I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it." (Judges 11:30-35) Let us first consider what we pray and promise to God. Our relationship with God is so valuable and sensitive. Speaking careless words to God can end in disaster, see Ananias and Jephthah.
Acts 6:4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
God is using believers who work full-time for Him. Spiritual leaders should be busy with the ministry of the Word and prayer. All spiritual leaders should be men of prayer, but we can read in the Bible that all believers should devote themselves to prayer. Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; (Col. 4:2)
Acts 6:6-7 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied
The apostles prayed for the deacons before they could start their new ministry. The deacons had a good reputation and were known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. The apostles brought the deacons before God's throne in prayer, asking for a blessing for them. After the apostles prayed, they laid their hands on the deacons to impart the blessing on them.
We should learn from this kind of prayer because, in our time, people lay hands on people and pray. But the apostles in the first church prayed first to God to get the power and permission to bless the deacons, and after that, they laid hands on them and imparted them with blessing and authority to fulfill their assignment.
We can find the same principle in the book of Mark chapter 16, where we are told that when we lay hands on the sick, they will recover. The Lord Jesus didn’t say to pray for the sick but to lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. Christ gives us the power and permission to heal the sick and we can execute the healing by laying our hands on the sick.
Mark 16:18 they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
