It Started With A Prayer
Notes
Transcript
It Started With A Prayer – Acts 16– goal, My Father’s house shall be called a house of prayer.
What’s in the power of prayer and how do we get people involved in corporate prayer?
The Journey Begins
1. Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
a. Could this be evidence of an unspoken prayer from Paul for a worthy companion? Can’t say, but it is the introduction of Timothy who Paul would later refer to as his son in the faith.
b. Are you meant to be someone’s Timothy? Perhaps you are in need of a Timothy.
2. Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7. After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
First Evidence of Prayer: The Gospel Messages comes to Macedonia.
9. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
a. James 5:16 …The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. We are never told anything about this man, Paul saw him in a vision. It could be that the man in the vision represented an untold number of people of Macedonia that were praying for help. God heard, and God answered.
i. Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
10. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
a. I believe the vision for RFBC is to see that our Father’s House becomes known as a house of prayer. Not to us – for we are a praying church – but rather for the community. What would it be like if the community knew they could come by, and someone would pray for them?
b. Change comes about when people pray. It is our single greatest weapon outside the word of God. It is the means by which we wield the sword of the Lord.
11. Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
a. We need a course, a direction by which to head.
b. We need to hear from God. How is it that we hear from God except we first pray?
12. And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. So, we understand we are in Philippi, part of the Roman Empire.
The Gospel message is to all the world. We (the Church) don’t need to ask God where it is that we need to take the Gospel. He has already told us. Jesus said, “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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8. This was the instruction to the Church. But perhaps you need to ask God where He would have you to take the Gospel. God calls the most unlikely and ill-equipped to His service.
Second Evidence of Prayer: Salvation comes to Lydia
13. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayerwas wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
a. This place was KNOWN and it was know to be a place where people gathered to pray.
b. All we can be certain of here is that the women were accustomed to praying. We aren’t told what they prayed. Probably traditional Jewish prayers. These weren’t Jews. V.5 says they worshiped God… Perhaps they needed help in understanding the God of the Jews.
i. Where were the men? Why did Paul choose to stop and speak to the women?
ii. 10 men were required to form a synagogue so…
14. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heardus: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
a. The gospel is for all – whosoever – rich and poor alike. Lydia was a woman of wealth and influence.
b. Lord = Kyrios = God
c. Romans 10:17 Faith cometh by hearing…
15. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
a. Here faithfulness to GOD (the word Lord is used, in the Greek Kyrios, meaning God) was preexisting. There is no distinction made between God and Jesus. She believed in God and now received Jesus and the promised Messiah. If anything was to be judged, it had to be here faithfulness to God.
i. Believers in God can get saved.
b. Lord = Kyrios = God
Third Evidence of Prayer: Casting out of unclean spirits
16. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
a. Men ought always to pray (Luke 18:1) – it keeps us close to God
17. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
a. The people of Philippi may not have recognized Jehovah as the Most High God. They may have even thought the girl was speaking of Zeus or some other Greek god.
18. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20. And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21. And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely:
24. Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Fourth Time of Prayer:Salvation come to the Jailer and his house.
25. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Mission Accomplished – God’s Deliverance
35. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37. But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38. And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39. And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
40. And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
a. Fellowshipping with likeminded brethren.
It all started with a Prayer
We want to make ourselves (that includes each of you) available to the community. Reidville First.
Is there any evidence of prayer in your life? I’m certain for most of you that there is. For those that might not be able to say “yes there is” let’s get together and pray about it.