THE
PRAYERFUL CHURCH IS A POWERFUL CHURCH
(ACTS 12:1-5) "Now about that time Herod
the king stretched forth [his] hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he
killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it
pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days
of unleavened bread.) 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in
prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him;
intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter therefore was
kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for
him."
Introduction:
a. A powerful church is a prayerful
church, and the Holy Spirit provides the necessary power from above.
(EPHESIANS 3:14-16) "For this cause I bow my
knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in
heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches
of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner
man;"
b. When a local congregation unites in
prayer, they tap into divine strength capable of overcoming any external threat
or persecution.
I. POWERFUL BASE ON THE WORKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE MIDST OF THE
CHURCH
(ACTS 1:8) "But ye shall receive power,
after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me
both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
part of the earth."
a. The power of the Holy Spirit is seen
in the spiritual life of church leaders.
(Acts 6:5-6) "And the saying pleased the
whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy
Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and
Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when
they had prayed, they laid their hands on them."
b. The Holy Spirit fills believers with
courage for daily witness.
c. Spiritual leadership relies on
divine guidance rather than human wisdom.
II. POWERFUL BASE ON THE WORKING OF GOD'S HANDS FOR THE SALVATION OF
SINNERS IN THE MIDST OF THE CHURCH
(ACTS 11:20-21) "And some of them were men of
Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the
Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them:
and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord."
a. God's hand is seen in many precious
souls being saved during the soul-winning ministry of the Church.
b. Unceasing prayer moves God to open
hardened hearts to the gospel message.
c. True spiritual power is measured by
the number of lives transformed by Christ.
III. POWERFUL BASE ON THE WORKING OF THE CHURCH TO REACH THE LOST AT ANY
COST INSPITE OF THE GREAT HINDRANCE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE IN WINNING THE LOST
(ACTS 5:26-29) "Then went the captain with
the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people,
lest they should have been stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set
[them] before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not
we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye
have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood
upon us. 29 Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to
obey God rather than men."
a. Our enemy the devil will use unsaved
people to try to stop us from winning souls at any cost.
b. Peter was very courageous to
continue winning souls even when facing great hindrances in spreading the
gospel of Christ.
c. A powerful church refuses to let
opposition silence its witness.
IV. POWERFUL BASE ON THE WORKING OF GOD TO BLESS THE CHURCH FOR DYNAMIC
GROWTH
(ACTS 6:6-7) "Whom they set before the
apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid [their] hands on them. 7 And the
word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem
greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
a. God is still in the business of
saving lost people.
(ACTS 2:41) "Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them
about three thousand souls."
b. Prayer fuels the systematic
expansion and multiplication of disciples.
c. God honors a united, praying
congregation with true spiritual revival.
Conclusion:
a. A church that prioritizes prayer
becomes an unstoppable spiritual force through the working of the Holy Spirit.
b. True power in the local church
results in courageous witness, transformed lives, and continuous growth for
God's glory.
God bless you all!
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