{"id":31937,"date":"2024-07-18T22:00:47","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T05:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/acts-4_13-22-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-07-09T21:18:09","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T04:18:09","slug":"acts-4_23-37","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/acts-4_23-37\/","title":{"rendered":"How Situations Can Changewith Prayer and God\u2019s Word"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acts 4:23-37 (CLICK HERE FOR\u00a0BIBLE VERSES)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is\u00a0Acts\u00a04:23-37.\u00a0 As usual,\u00a0I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

Acts 4:23-36 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n23\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.<\/em>
\n24\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.<\/em>
\n25\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?<\/em>
\n26\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 24-26:\u00a0 Notice how much the early church relied on two habits: prayer and studying the Scriptures.\u00a0 Before the book of Acts, we see no record of the disciples searching and quoting the Scriptures themselves, but now after seeing the resurrected Jesus and after being filled with the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures become so important and alive to them.\u00a0 They begin to use the Scriptures to preach, to pray and to make decisions.\u00a0 Here in verses 25-26 these Christians are quoting Psalm 2:1-2 in their prayer.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0The Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures go hand in hand.\u00a0 If you want to grow in your relationship with God, you need to cherish both the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0When you draw near to the Holy Spirit, He can give you insight into the Scriptures, and your understanding of the Scriptures can in turn teach you how to relate to the Holy Spirit. \u00a0When you focus a lot on the Holy Spirit but spend no time in the Holy Scriptures, you blow up.\u00a0 When you spend much time in the Holy Scriptures but don\u2019t draw near to the Holy Spirit, you dry up.\u00a0 But when you seek both the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures together, you grow up.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acts 4:27-28 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n27\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.<\/em>
\n28\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 27-28:\u00a0 An ongoing lesson in Acts is that God is sovereign (that is, ultimately in control) (See,\u00a0for example, Acts 3:17-18 and here in Acts 4:27-28).\u00a0\u00a0God uses even the problems, the challenges, the persecution and the evil we face to ultimately fulfill His own purposes.\u00a0 That\u2019s why the church here can look at how Jesus\u2019 opponents conspired against Jesus and still say, \u201cThey did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.\u201d (v28)\u00a0\u00a0The difficulties we go through in life are not beyond God\u2019s ability to control.\u00a0 In all things God works for our good and for His glory (Romans 8:28).\u00a0 So if you\u2019re facing a difficult situation right now, know that God has sovereignly allowed that situation because He is using it to accomplish His greater purposes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acts 4:29-31 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n29\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.<\/em>
\n30\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”<\/em>
\n31\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 29-31:\u00a0 In addition to the Scriptures, the early church relied so much on praying to Jesus and asking Jesus for boldness and power to speak and serve in His name.\u00a0 Over and over in the book of Acts we see the power of prayer.\u00a0 Verse 31 says that after the church prayed together \u201cthe place where they were meeting was shaken\u201d and \u201cthey were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.\u201d\u00a0 That is the power of drawing near to Jesus through prayer.\u00a0 Prayer changes the atmosphere.\u00a0 Prayer changes the individual praying.\u00a0 And prayer changes the church.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>I encourage you to keep a record of the times when God answers your prayers in wonderful ways.\u00a0 Nothing is impossible with God!<\/p>\n

Acts 4:32-33 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n32\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.<\/em>
\n33\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 32-33:\u00a0 Where did this incredible unity and power in the church come from?\u00a0 I believe it\u2019s because the believers were committed to drawing near to God together, especially in prayer and in the Scriptures.\u00a0\u00a0When we are committed to drawing near to God together in prayer and in the Scriptures, and when we do this with a humble heart, we become like a power station from which God\u2019s power can be seen and distributed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acts 4:34-35 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n34\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales<\/em>
\n35\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 34-35:\u00a0 Why was the church able to take care of so many people in need?\u00a0 It\u2019s because people with wealth were willing to give what they had toward God\u2019s purposes.\u00a0 What wealth has God given you that you can lay at Jesus\u2019 feet to be used to help others?\u00a0 Perhaps it\u2019s wealth in the form of financial assets, or talents, or time to volunteer.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s be people who willingly give what we have for God\u2019s greater purposes, knowing that we will be blessed both on earth and in heaven even while we equip our church to do greater things.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acts 4:36-37 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n36\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),<\/em>
\n37\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 36-37:\u00a0 As an example of the generosity and unity that typified the early church, we read of Joseph.\u00a0 Joseph was so well known for the way he encouraged others, people nicknamed him \u201cBarnabas\u201d (meaning \u201cSon of Encouragement\u201d).\u00a0 The first time we see Barnabas in Acts he\u2019s selling a field he owned and putting the money at the apostles\u2019 feet for the church to use as needed.\u00a0\u00a0 Before God would elevate Barnabas to a position of prominence and influence in the church, God would first deal with Barnabas on this private matter about how he would use his wealth.\u00a0 I could imagine that because Barnabas was faithful to pass a private test, God gave him more assignments and more influence later.\u00a0\u00a0Likewise, God will often have us deal with private issues in our lives before releasing us into public leadership.\u00a0\u00a0When we are faithful to honour God with what we have today, no matter how small it might seem to us, God will honour us with more assignments and responsibility later.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another reason Luke mentions Barnabas here is to juxtapose Barnabas\u2019 very positive example of giving with the negative example of Ananias and Sapphira, whom we will look at in the next chapter, Acts 5.<\/p>\n

Sovereign Lord, thank You that You are in control and You work in all things, even the most difficult situations, to bring about good for us and glory for Yourself.\u00a0 Thank You for every lesson we can learn from Your Word today.\u00a0 May we as a church cherish Your Word and Your Holy Spirit together.\u00a0 Thank You that when I am faithful to honour You with what You have given to me, You will honour me in return and expand my territory.\u00a0 In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is\u00a0Acts\u00a04:23-37.\u00a0 As usual,\u00a0I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Acts 4:23-36 (NIV)
\n23\u00a0\u00a0On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
\n24\u00a0\u00a0When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
\n25\u00a0\u00a0You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
\n26\u00a0\u00a0The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.
\n\u00a0
\nOn verses 24-26:\u00a0 Notice how much the early church relied on two habits: prayer and studying the Scriptures.\u00a0 Before the book of Acts, we see no record of the disciples searching and quoting the Scriptures themselves, but now after seeing the resurrected Jesus and after being filled with the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures become so important and alive to them.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31939,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31937"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31940,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31937\/revisions\/31940"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}