The Church in Prayer

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 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 4:23-31

    After their arrest and trial for preaching the gospel of Christ, Peter and John were released, but were given strict command by the Jewish Sanhedrin 'not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus' (4:18). As soon as they were released Peter and John went to the place where God's saints were gathered for worship and told their brethren what had happened to them. Then the saints 'lifted up their voice to God with one accord'. They had a prayer meeting. What a weapon! Nothing strengthens the hands of God's church and his servants in the work of the gospel like prayer. I want to draw attention to three things in this passage.

    1. The comfort and joy of a real church family (4:23)

    When Peter and John were released from bondage, they did not go home. They did not go to the courts to file a lawsuit. They did not do any of the things that many today do in the name of God when they feel that they have been wronged (see 2 Cor. 10:3-4). Peter and John went to their family, the church of God, and told them what had happened. The Holy Spirit describes it in simple, tender terms. 'They went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.'

    The saints of God were meeting together at the appointed place in the hour of worship. Peter and John went directly to the meeting place because that is where they wanted and needed to be. There is no joy that can compare to the fellowship of God's saints in the house of worship. There is no comfort like the comfort of believing men and women as they sit together in fellowship in the house of God, singing his praise, calling upon him in prayer and hearing the gospel of Christ preached in the power of the Spirit, worshipping the triune God. When David was driven from his throne and forced to live in the wilderness for fear of his life, above all else, he longed to go once more with his brethren into the house of God to worship the Lord (Ps. 84:1-4,10). The man after God's own heart said, 'I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord' (Ps. 122:1).

    Nothing is more important and beneficial in the life of a believer than the assembly of God's saints in public worship. Every true local church is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16). Christ has promised to meet with every assembly of men and women gathered in his name (Matt. 18:20). You are most likely to hear from God in that place where men and women gather to hear the gospel preached (Rom. 10:17; Eph. 4:11-16). In the house of God the people of God gather to worship at the throne of God. In our songs of praise, in our observance of the ordinances, in our prayers and in our preaching, our object is the worship of God. The assembly of the saints is the meeting of God's family. What can be more delightful and beneficial than a family gathering? When I am sick, in trouble, sorrowful, depressed, or rejoicing, I want to be with my family (Ps. 133:1).

    The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews gives us wise counsel when he admonishes us not to despise and neglect the assembly of God's saints. That is the first step to total apostasy (Heb. 10:24-26). We need those things God has provided for his children in his house more than we need anything else in this world: the ministry of the Word, the fellowship of God's saints, the communion of Christ and the worship of God. After spending two days and nights among the Lord's enemies, Peter and John wanted, above anything else, to spend a little time in the house of God with the family of God.

    2. The matters of great concern In prayer (4:24-30)

    After the apostles told the church what had happened to them, with one accord they began to pray. They did not take up arms. They did not try to rally the nation behind the cause of religious freedom. They did not try to form a ministerial association so that the Jewish leaders and the apostles of Christ might learn to work together. They did not tum on Peter and John and ask them to resign because they could not fit into the community. And they did not take a vote to form a committee to investigate the social impact of Christianity upon the Jewish world. They prayed!

    Obviously, one man led the congregation in prayer. Perhaps several led them at successive times. But they did not all audibly pray at once. In the house of God all things are 'done decently and in order' (1 Cor. 14:40). No aspect of public worship is more important than public prayer. When a man leads the congregation in prayer, as he lifts his voice to God, the whole congregation ought to lift their hearts with his, ascribing praise to God, acknowledging his good providence and the blessings of his grace, seeking the power of his Spirit to attend the ministry of the Word for the glory of Christ. This is exactly what happened in verses 24-30.

    They adored the supremacy and greatness of the Lord God (4:24). Nothing encourages people to do God's work or to suffer for his name's sake like the realization of his greatness. Our God is great! We may reasonably expect great things from him. He who made all things and rules all things has all things at his disposal (Ps. 135:6). Get hold of that and you will get hold of both courage and peace.

    The saints of God here acknowledged and bowed to the sovereign purpose of God revealed in the accomplishment of his providence (4:24-28). These men and women confidently believed that both they and their enemies were completely, totally, absolutely in the hands of God. That fact secured their hearts in peace. They believed his Word (4:25-26), submitted to his providence (4:27) and acknowledged his purpose (4:28). Nothing thwarts the purpose of God. Nothing escapes his absolute rule (Isa. 14:24,26-27; Dan. 4:34-35). The purpose of God is the salvation of his people by the death of his Son. He sovereignly controls even the rage of ungodly, reprobate men to accomplish that great purpose!

    Then these saints of God asked the Lord to grant to his servants grace and strength to preach the Word (4:29-30). They made three simple, submissive requests of faith to God, whose cause they served, whose glory they sought.

    1. They asked God to watch over them: 'Now, Lord, behold their threatenings' (cf. Zech. 2:8).

    2. They asked him to grant his servants boldness to preach the gospel.

    3. They asked him to stretch forth his hand, to reveal his power, his grace and his glory in their midst (4:30).

    They asked these things in the name of Christ and for the glory of Christ.

    3. The Lord's gracious answer to the cry of his people (4:31)

    In response to their prayer, God made himself known in the midst of his people. The church was filled with the Spirit. The apostles preached the Word of God with boldness. God was honoured. Let every congregation imitate this congregation and God will be honoured in his church today!