Prayer and Bible Band

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Background Reading:  

Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 7:7-11; Acts Lena Reading John 10:1-5; Acts 4:23-30; wet 1 John 3:17 

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Devotional Reading:

Acts 4:33-37

 

​Central Verse

"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

Acts 4:31, KJV

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“After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness “

Acts 4:3, NLT

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Key Terms

​Overwhelming  — To overcome completely; very great in amount; very strong. 
Distraction — Something that distracts, an object that directs one’s attention away from something else. 
Possessions - Things that belong to a person. 
Apostolic — Of, relating to, or conforming to the teachings of the New Testament Apostles. 

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Introduction

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The Holy Spirit had created within the Apostles an overwhelming desire to proclaim the Gospel. He gave them determination not to allow anyone, or anything to stop them from sharing the Word. Peter and John had been put in jail because of using the mighty, wonder-working power of the Holy Spirit to heal a man who had been crippled for over forty years. They had boldly let the Jewish Council know that they would obey God rather than obey.

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Them after they were told not to preach nor teach in the name of Jesus. These men knew that the Jewish council had power, but understood the power in the name of Jesus. They refused to allow any distraction to break their connection with God and His will for their lives. 

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Every believer should be so convinced that the name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous run into it, and they are safe (Proverbs 18:1 0). They should know that the Word of the Lord is alive and powerful. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12). They should be so much like Jesus that people will automatically know that they are a part of Jesus’ Church. 
 

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Discussion

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The two apostles had been released and went back to report to the believers what had happened at the Jewish Council. The people joined in with them with prayer and began to proclaim the Word of the Lord. They began to entreat God and asked Him for boldness that they might speak His Word, by stretching out their hand to heal, and they prayed that signs and wonders might be done by the power of the name of Jesus. 

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As they asked God, He heard them and granted their requests. God shook the place where they were and released the Holy Ghost again, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke the Word of God with boldness. As believers speak to God, they will sometimes hear other voices that can influence their behavior, thoughts, and even the direction they should take. But the believers must not be shaken in their faith and confidence in God. Jesus said, “My sheep know my voice” (John 10:27) and “a stranger they will not follow” (John 10:5). So, when God, the devil, people, our families, religious leaders, or even our own thoughts speak, we must recognize God’s voice above all else and follow Him. 

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The more God blessed them, the more their hearts became tender towards each other. They became concerned about the needs of their fellowmen so much that if one had possession, they all had possessions, for they had all things in common. A notable thing about the new converts is the fact that they all prayed together. Praying together brings believers closer to their purpose and allows them to experience the power of the Holy Spirit when they pray.  

As the new converts were filled with the Holy Spirit, the Apostles received new fillings. They needed the new fillings to meet the continuing opposition of the Jews. The new fillings brought about the presence of God and freed the believers from the fear of others and greatly increased the courage for believers to speak out for God. For the power of the Holy Spirit brings empowerment for believers to become witnesses. 

Apostolic preaching and witnessing brings about great power. With great power came the witnessing of the believers, which caused great grace to come upon them. When God is honored, trusted, and obeyed, there cannot be any lack. God is the source of every need that a believer can ever have. David told believers that because God is his shepherd, he shall not want (Psalms 23:1). There was a spirit of love that was being manifested in a way that was beyond comprehension. Many times, believers forget that God is love and that love is not love until love is shared. “But whoso hath this world’s good, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (1 John 3:17). 
 

​Conclusion

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God gave great power when the disciples spoke, until great conviction came upon the people regarding their personal sins, Christ’s righteousness, and God’s judgment. The great power included the anointing of the Spirit upon the Apostles for miraculous signs and wonders, so that believers — multitudes of both men and women — could be added to the Kingdom. 

The believers were so in tune with God after they received the Holy Spirit that they were careful not to offend God in any way. When a believer falls in love with God, he wants to know all that he can find out about Him. He wants to feel Him, touch Him, talk to Him, be near Him, and obey Him. One of the brethren named Joses, of the tribe of Levite had some land, sold it, brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles’ feet. 

He wanted to make sure that his goods would be shared. I believe that  during these perilous days that we are living in, the believers need to prepare for a great move of God. We need to live with the expectation of miracles, signs, and wonders. The believers have prayer ministries all over our countries, the United States of America and around the world. But we must not just pray but we must humble ourselves, seek God’s face, turn from our selfish and wicked ways. Only then are we going to hear from Heaven, then, God will forgive our sins and heal our land. 

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We must return to the foundation of holiness teaching, treat each other with respect, and show integrity toward one another. When we do this, we will fulfill Jesus’ teaching, treat each other with respect, and sow integrity toward one another.  

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​Questions​​

1.    Why did Peter and John go to the new believers and tell them what happened at the Jewish council? 
2.    What was the great power about in this lesson? 
3.    When the believers prayed, what happened? 
4.    When a believer asks God for certain things, why must he be careful in his listening? 
5.    What are some of the distractions that can come into a believer’s heart if he is not watchful? ​

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Essential Thought​

"The promise of the Holy Spirit is given to every believer when they accept it. "

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