Rev. E. Anderson
THE SHAKING POWER OF PRAYER
Reading Acts 4
Introduction
Inspiration: The infant Church had a dynamic inspiration present in its beginning and it is apparent that it was directed to prayer. The apostles from the commencement sensed the importance of this ministry as they tarried for 100 days for the blessing of the baptism of the Holy Spirit – chapter 1. As many came to believe they taught the necessity and practice of prayer amongst the first disciples as they assembled together – Acts 2: 42. There was a personal and obvious commitment on the part of the leaders of the apostolic band to this spiritual exercise – Acts 3: 1. And now they are in a definite conflict and crisis they know what they are to resort to – Acts 4:24.
Illustration: In this incident and experience is revealed how they prayed and what occurred when they prayed and it is evident that there was a great deal of shaking factors evident. In viewing this early situation and so set a pattern to all of Christendom as to what should be done when things are seemingly running conversely against it and what can divinely take place if the right spiritual procedure is adopted. They were shaken in the best sense of the word by the turn of events and knew what it was to turn the adverse opposition into a glorious positive by a shaking work out in prayer and supplication. There was a dynamic at their disposal that could move on to greater divine dynamics.
1/. THEY WERE PREPARED TO SHAKE HEAVEN INTO ACTION – v24
Having reported what had happened and was intended by their opponents they knew that the next thing must do was to present the issue to the One who could do something about it. They were united in this and spiritually shaken into corporate action. It was not left to one individual to accept the task of praying, they all engaged and meant business. Heaven must respond to the situation that existed on earth and they were together it making heaven sense their spirit vibrations. The tremors they were feeling were reverberating around heaven.
2/. THEY WERE SHAKEN BY THE REVELATION OF THE ONE THEY ADDRESSED – v24
In prayer they were under no illusions as to who they were calling out to but were profoundly moved by the knowledge of who He was and His immense capabilities. If anyone could shake and shape anything, it was the One that they were speaking out to. Prayer adopts the stance of faith in God as the One who can do anything and is assured that He will not only take notice but take powerful action.
3/. THEY WERE SHAKEN BY THE KNOWLEDGE OF PROPHETIC DECLARATION – vv25-28
They were to be dynamically assisted in their presentations and supplications in what God’s Word had already recorded and were most relevant to their situation. God was fully aware of all that had and was occurring in terms of united opposition and was undisturbed as Psalm 2 makes known. Prayer led to perceive the inspired communication of the past as being most apt and appropriate in the immediate setting. God was not shaking in His shoes because of the amalgamation of forces that was set up and making their voices and views known. Everything would fall in line with His counsel and He would do the shaking that would change things. The prophetic word would shake the indifference out also and cause faith and divine assurance to be sovereign in this.
4/. THEY WERE SHAKEN BY THE ASSURANCE OF WHAT COULD BE WROUGHT – v30
They had been delighted with the way things had gone since the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and that they had witnessed the miracle of healing of one man that had brought about such a turning to God – Acts 3; 4: 4. It had also meant them being taken captive but this had provided a platform for declaring the truth about Christ in a bigger setting. What they desired in prayer to create a greater shake-up was powerful preaching of the Word of God, attested with the miraculous. What had been given previously was but a foretaste of what could be brought about on a much wider front. There were still bigger shake-ups to known!
5/. THEY WERE SHAKEN BY A MANIFESTATION AND MINISTRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - v31
The response from heaven was create a supernatural shake-up by causing the building where they were gathered to move without causing it to fall down and to inspire them with a dynamic inspiration so that they all felt spiritually renewed and charged. They were pretty well charged up when they prayed but this made a world of difference to them within. They knew in themselves they would more than cope with what confronted outside.
6/. THEY WERE ABLE TO SHAKE THE COMMUNITY OF THEIR DAY WITH A DYNAMIC WITNESS – v 33
If the religious and traditional thought they were going to split and divide the Christian Church they were in for a shock. It became stronger, bigger and more united than ever and the testimony to Jesus Christ in resurrection power more pronounced. They hope to turn down this message but it was more tuned up so it would have a more divine shaking impact.
CONCLUSION
The early Church has clearly pointed the way for all time for Christendom. If society is to be powerfully shaken and moved spiritually then the Church must resort to the dynamic of prayer. In turning to God is the hope that He will move in and show that He is still sovereign and can and will provide
