copy the scriptures and turn with me to Acts chapter 4. maybe you have a Bible or maybe you brought your acts scripture Journal but I'm going to be in Acts 4 beginning in verse 23 in just a moment perhaps some of you remember the phrates it's been several years now but uh Brian and his family were a part of the ministry residency at Brentwood and we're assigned to our campus for a season where he just did various things regarding missions if you ever had a chance to meet Brian and Wendy you know that they were made to be where they are sharing Jesus overseas and so very grateful for them and encourage you to pray for them I wonder if we have made Christianity more difficult than it's supposed to be stand with me in honor of God's word and let's read beginning with verse 23 of Acts chapter 4. after they were released they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them when they heard this they raised their voices together to God and said master you are the one who made the heavens Heaven and Earth and the Sea and everything in them you said through the Holy Spirit by the mouth of Our Father David your servant why do the Gentiles rage and the people's plot futile things the kings of the Earth take their stand and the rulers assemble together against the Lord and against his Messiah verse 27 for in fact in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel assembled together against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place and now Lord consider their threats and Grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness while you stretch out your hand for healing and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus when they had prayed the place where they were assembled was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly father would you shake us fill us and give us boldness amen I think you can be seated I wonder if we've made Christianity harder than it's supposed to be I wonder if it has become more difficult this thing called Christianity then it was ever intended I know we've talked about the Asbury Revival ad nauseam it's one of those things that you can evaluate way too much which we probably have but I did come across a statement this week that I just had to share too good not to share from a young lady who was there in Kentucky and was part of the Revival and she writes about her takeaway and here's what she says her name was Kelly Levins here's what she says there is a piano player a guitar player and a single drum hard chairs ugly interior the lights don't dim no one is serving Donuts not a single smoke machine no fancy lights no timers no perfect Productions no leader and no teams no hierarchy or competition no kids class nobody greets you in the parking lot literally no structure whatsoever apparently the only thing needed to attract people to God is God why have we made it so complicated it's a good question I wonder if Christianity has become more difficult than it was ever intended to be for instance what comes to your mind when you think prayer meeting if you're like me and grew up in the churches I was a part of you think oh so a bunch of Baptists get together and gossip but instead of gossiping they they say we're sharing prayer requests but they just it's gossip and then somebody prays for way too long and then somebody else prays for way too long and you can't wait for someone to say Amen so you can go home but did you notice in the prayer that we just read together in Acts chapter 4 the early church got together and prayed and if you take your time it takes less than a minute to pray this prayer less time than it takes for you to add cream and sugar to your coffee was this prayer that they prayed together and a result the room shook they got the Holy Ghost and they preached boldly 52nd prayer I Think Jesus has something to say about those who go on and on and on with prayer right if that's you sorry but not only that they prayed together Luke says that they joined their voices aloud and in this instance they prayed this I don't know if they wrote it down and handed it to each other but according to Luke this is what they prayed together they didn't come to church that Sunday and say let's pray and they prayed individually there's time and place for that but the early church when they got together they prayed together they were formed as they prayed to God it was a group in formation and I just wonder if we've made it more difficult if we need to come in and look at each other and acknowledge who God is and what we need together Jews who these were them the spirit hasn't fallen on the Gentiles yet this would have been their Norm they weren't weirded out by together pray prayers they got together for evening prayers they got together for morning prayers they got together for Midday prayers and they prayed out loud together and so it just stands to reason that when this early church got together they were going to pray this prayer and they pray others as we'll see well I want to look at what they prayed because it's really important but I need to catch you up to where we've been because that's important too if you were here last week you know we were in Acts chapter 3 and in case this is your first Sunday here we're going through the book of Acts okay that's why we got these externals I would say I'll give you one on your way out but we had like six this morning so sorry I can get you one though just let me know Josh Land priest last week and he preached an incredible message on Acts 3 and he told this story that really sets up what's going on in Acts chapter 4.
after the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 we read that Peter and John were going to the temple at the time of prayer probably midday prayers they were going to the temple to pray together and on their way to church they saw a lame man sitting outside the church or the temple door which is a good place for a lame man to be if he wants money because a lot of times people on their way to church want to earn points with God they're feeling a little generous they want to earn their keep and so he was right there by the church door well Peter and John walk up and they don't have any money and if you were here last week you'll remember that they said we don't have money but here's what we'll give you and God gave them the ability to see this man healed and then Luke goes on to tell us that of course this is going to happen when when a lame man whom they have walked by day after day after day all of a sudden gets up jumps around and dances and does the gritty he I don't know why I just said that when he gets up and he might have I don't know I would have been happy enough to do something like that he it causes a commotion and people are people are what is going on of course it does when you see a man who's been laying 40 years well what happens next Peter has boldness and he doesn't talk about he doesn't say hey for 9. 99 you too can be healed that's not his that's not his Spiel what does he do he has boldness and he preaches about the resurrected Christ what you're seeing here is a new reality Jesus whom you killed he says that over and over again Jesus whom you killed God raised him from the dead and now there's a new reality here and you're witnessing this new reality well guess who didn't want to hear Peter and John preach about Jesus the authorities the same people who killed Jesus about a month ago they're known as the Sanhedrin Chief priests teachers of the law some of them older guys the authority of the land probably had long beards ZZ Top without the sunglasses Oak Ridge Boys I just imagine these stuffy old men in robes belief in their obeying God but given power and authority of the land and they didn't like that Peter and John were preaching about Jesus and so they took him into custody and it was night so they couldn't have the uh couldn't have a talk about it until the next morning so they spent the night in jail they get them the next morning and Peter and John have to stand before what was what probably looked a lot like the Supreme Court they were the rulers of the day what they said about your life was what was held they were the authority they were the power they were the influencers they determined your fate and so they pulled them and said what's what's going on how did this man get healed and what do you have to say for yourself and what tell tell us more about this this thing that you were preaching to these people well Peter again is given boldness and what does he do he preaches the same thing he's been preaching he says you're seeing a new reality this Jesus and he says it again whom you killed I'd be like Peter easy this Jesus whom you killed God raised from the dead and and this new resurrected reality is taking shape this man is now healed that's what's going on Jesus is the Messiah and Lord they don't like that and so I said you got to stop that my translation and they say we can't we're not going to be arrogant about it we're not going to be belligerent about it we're not going to be weird about it but if we see something that's miraculous and done by Jesus we're going to give witness to it we're going to testify to it well they don't like that either but they're looking at a man who is 40 something years old and they're healed and they didn't have an argument and so they threatened him one more time and said don't talk about Jesus Anymore have a great day well Peter and John go back to the upper room or go back where the early church is and that's where we pick it up in verse 23. they had just spent a night in jail because they healed a man on the way to church and they and and they were questioned what are you what's happening here and they preach about Jesus then the authorities pull pull them aside and say what are you doing and they preach about Jesus and then they get released and they go back and they go to the upper room with the early church and they report what's going on and what do you think they do next do they run into the do they run they say you know what this is this is getting serious what they did to Jesus they're probably going to do to us so what we didn't do is go home tonight we need to pack our bags we need to get our family we need to get out of here because if we stay around here they're probably going to kill us is that what they did they prayed I had a prayer meeting and it wasn't one of those long four-hour ones where it just goes on and on and on and on it was a 50 second prayer you would think well maybe they've got together and put together a strategy of how they're going to reach the Sanhedrin for Jesus let's form a mission and vision and strategy of how we're going to reach this land for Jesus that's not what they did they didn't they didn't get together and form a little group and complain about how evil the leadership of the land was oh not the church people would do that kind of easy the leadership of the land in the name of God was telling them to shut their mouths about Jesus they could have easily said I cannot believe how evil and wicked the leadership is you know what they also didn't do they also didn't form a a group and talk about how Wicked the culture was and rage against the culture and then try to predict when Jesus is going to come back not that church people would do that either they didn't pray for safety and protection they didn't think that they were outside of God's will for being thrown in jail they got together and they prayed a very very specific prayer let's get to the contents for a few minutes I've broken the prayer down into two parts just to help me navigate it what did they do when they got together to pray number one they prayed acknowledging that God is bigger stronger greater and better and number two they prayed for God to continue to work and then for God to help them to be bold as they gave Witness that was their prayer it's going to take me a little longer than 50 seconds to unpack it but if you read it out loud it takes you a little less than a minute let's look at it first God Is Bigger stronger greater and better it makes sense if you think about it because like like in our day and their day it appeared as if God was nowhere around have you ever wondered where God is when you watch the news I wonder I wonder what Christians in Ukraine think is Vladimir Putin in charge depending on where you stand on the the political Spectrum I wonder if you think the other side is out to demonize you and it just feels like where are you God well they had just stood before the most powerful group in the land and so it makes sense that when they gather with other believers they're going to look at other believers and say we need to remind ourselves who's in charge it's not them it's God do you see how they start their prayer look with me in verse where am I verse 24 yes master you're the one who made the heaven the earth and the Sea and everything in them you rule nothing it appears it appears as if the Sanhedrin has our lives in in their hands but you're greater than them church so much of our life it appears it feels it looks as if God is taking a break and the powers that be right in front of us are the ones who are really in control but the Bible says no that's not true God is the one who's in charge you made the heavens you made the Earth you started this stuff you're going to end this you're going to be with us in the middle of it Master you are greater than them I wonder if we've made Christianity harder than it's supposed to be because we we think that the powers in front of us are bigger than God the early church said we've got to remind ourselves of this and then they do something weird they pray psalm 2.
does that these people they were smart why did they pray Psalm 2 well if you've been paying attention in Acts 1 2 3 and 4 we're going to see it throughout the Psalms are quoted over and over again did you know the Psalms or the prayer book of the Jews a song book of the Jews if you're ever struggling with prayer let me beg you to turn to Psalms and just pray them you want to know how you're supposed how God intends for you to respond to him read the Psalms pray the Psalms sing the Psalms Brad had us leading in one of those psalms oh magnify the Lord with me they knew it they memorized it and this was a perfect one for them to quote because they had just left the Sanhedrin it appeared that those people were in charge but they start the prayer saying God you're bigger than they are you're the one in charge then they quote Psalm 2 why because Psalm 2 is about the nation's plotting the people getting together to rage against God and His anointed but what does Psalm 2 go on to say the one who sits in heaven laughs I thought it's pretty good after after they quote Psalm 2 the the uh as they quote Psalm 2 they're reminded that God is in heaven scoffing at the rulers of the land look what they quote there in verse 20 25. why did the Gentiles rage in the people's plot futile things the kings of the Earth take their stand and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against his Messiah I don't know about you but my soul needs to be reminded that God is is bigger than any Authority on Earth yeah there is no reason ever a Christian should be scared of the government we have a small view of God if that's the case they didn't say let's go pack our bags and get away from here they they started by acknowledging God is in charge and guess what church he's pretty good at it one commentator I read on Psalm 2 this week said this I thought it was so good he said what is this issue what it what is at issue here is size we require an act of imagination that enables us to see that the world of God is large far larger than the worlds of kings and princes Prime Ministers and presidents far larger than the worlds reported by a newspaper and television far larger than the world described in big books by nuclear physicists and Military historians Psalm 2 helps us imagine and see that the world of God's ruling word is not an afterthought I love that because they quote the psalm that would have reminded them that even though the nations are plotting Jesus and God are behind the scenes working out his Sovereign rule and I don't know who Saul needs to hear that but mine does on the regular maybe we've missed the whole point of Why We Gather and sing music on Sunday morning it's not about what songs would do and don't like it's about us looking at each other saying remember who God is I remember what Jesus has done it's about the content of what we're singing and praying together to God you know what they do next they connect Psalm 2 to their current situation it's as if they believe the Bible should be lived it's as if it's as if they believe the the world of David in Psalm 2 and their world could actually Collide and it does because what was going on with David in Psalm 2 is a one-to-one connection with what they were experiencing and what the Messiah had experienced pick it up with me in verse 27 continuing to pray after they quote Psalm 2 for in fact in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel assembled together against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place such a beautiful prayer Jesus we didn't see it Jesus of Nazareth was plain and ordinary and from nowheresville we thought just like the rest of the world that you you you don't rule that God would rule like the world in an impersonal way a powerful way whoever's got the most money way but you didn't do that you sent Jesus of Nazareth a very personal way of ruling the world and we thought nothing of Jesus but your Sovereign hand was working out your perfect plan you had ordained that this was the way it should be and Jesus didn't look like much and Jesus didn't appear to be much but Jesus was your Messiah and West Franklin let's remember this it may not look like it it may not appear like it but God is still working out his plan that he's predestined to take place and it's going to be okay and what the world says brings influence and power is not the same as the Bible what brings influence and power and the kingdom is plain unnoticed least expected kind of things that are very very personal that's how he did it with the Messiah that's how he's going to do it amongst us I wonder if we've made Christianity harder than it was ever intended to God is greater God Is Bigger God is better God is stronger second part of the prayer God does the work we give the witness God does the work we give the witness I want you to put your eyes please on verse 29. verses 29 and 30 the second portion of this prayer watch this and now Lord consider their threats and Grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness while you stretch out your hand for healing and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus there's two parts God give us boldness and stretch out your hand and do miracles but I want you to notice there's a connection between the end of verse 29 and verse 30.
my translation says God give us boldness while you stretch out your hand other translations say as you stretch out your hand Church of West Franklin I want to submit to you that the disciples that the early church were praying God you keep doing miraculous stuff this is your work and may we be a part of may we see it and when we see it give us boldness to testify to what you're doing think about this this isn't you and me going to tell God what we're going to do this is you and I praying God you keep doing what you're doing and put us in that place so that when the miracle happens we can give testimony and witness to the resurrected Christ this is huge because I've grown up thinking God here's my plan here's how I'm going to do my plan it's my initiative you bless my plan church is great at that but that's not the way of the New Testament God this is your act and as you work put us there so that we can give testimony when people ask us what's going on it is the story of Acts why did Peter preach that incredible message in Acts 2. because the Holy Spirit came and people were like what in the world is going on these people must be drunk Peter preached out of a response to a question that was a response to a miraculous work of God Acts chapter 3 and 4 while we're here why did Peter boldly preach to the crowd and then boldly preached to the Sanhedrin because they wanted to know how this man got healed they didn't take the initiative God took the initiative and they responded out of it Acts chapter 7 read it later well we'll get to it Stephen the first witness preaches an incredible message an incredible message about Jesus and his death burial and Resurrection if you look close it's in response to Ministry that he had been doing and people were asking him what's going on Turn the Page to Acts chapter 8 a miraculous thing happens where Philip is told to go stand by a chariot and it just so happened that Ethiopian was reading from Isaiah 53 and as Phillips walking by The Chariot the Ethiopian says what's going on here he preaches in response to a question and I could go on and on but I'm guessing you want to go to lunch I wonder if we've been so busy telling God what we're going to do that we've missed what he's doing Leslie newbigen was a missionary to India and a pastor and a theologian he said the greatest missionary proclamations in acts are not given on the unilateral initiative of the Apostles but in response to questions asked by others questions prompted by the presence of something which calls for an explanation the early church didn't say God give us opportunity the early church said God you're working put us where you're working and then give us boldness to testify to the resurrected Christ I wonder if we've made Christianity more difficult than it was ever intended to be I wonder if we've bought into the lie that really this Christian life is about us and at the end of our life we're going to stand and say didn't I do good you know how many people have led to the Lord and all this stuff I did when really at the end of the day it's about what God has done that's what it's about at the end of the day and the disciples said give us boldness when we see you at work so I just need to ask what does this mean for us what does this mean for you maybe we need to shorten our prayers a bit what'd you learn at church today well my pastor said shorten my prayers Jesus does say something about those who go on and on and on it's in the context of doing it for show if you pray a long time please do that's okay you can probably go into your closet and pray yes but perhaps praying a short prayer wouldn't hurt us and perhaps we might need to shift the trajectory of our prayers maybe we need to start with a reminder of the fact that he is in charge he's bigger than any Authority any problem that we're facing it may not feel like it it may not seem like it but in Christianity all about faith in the first place it may not smell like it but he's in charge and didn't he tell his disciples to pray Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed Be Your Name Your Kingdom Come your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven isn't that how it starts and maybe Church maybe we need to be delayed on telling God about our plans for him and we need to back up a bit and say God as I walk with you you stretch out your hand to do miraculous things maybe maybe my next door neighbor is has his marriage is about to fall apart and you're going to put them in my life maybe you're doing something in my neighborhood that I can't imagine maybe my waitress at a restaurant this week is going to tell me that she's got cancer and you're gonna put me somewhere where we can see your work would you give me boldness when you put me in a path of where you're working your miraculous plan maybe we need to pray for eyes to see what the resurrected Jesus is already doing have we made Christianity harder than it's supposed to be perhaps as Brad and the musicians come up and close us with A Hymn I want to call your attention to verse 31.
