1. GREAT PRAYERS OF THE BIBLE

2. THE BELIEVERS’ PRAYER FOR BOLDNESS

3. “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When 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. You 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? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his anointed One.” Acts 4: NIV

4. “Indeed 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. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4: NIV

5. The Arrest and Release of Peter and John
Peter and John were arrested for preaching the Gospel
They had gone up to the Temple at the time of prayer –Acts 3:1
They healed a crippled man in the name of Jesus and then began preaching the Gospel to the crowd – Acts 3:1-26
The chief priest and elders didn’t like what Peter and John were preaching, so they had them arrested – Acts 4:1-12

6. The Arrest and Release of Peter and John
They were strongly warned, and then released
The religious leaders weren’t sure what to do with them
They commanded Peter and John not to speak or teach anymore in the name of Jesus –Acts 4:13-20
After making further threats, they let them go –Acts 4:21-22; 5:40

7. They Returned to their Brethren for Prayer
Prayer was a major priority for the early Church
They all joined together constantly in prayer – Acts 1:14
They devoted themselves to prayer – Acts 2:
It’s no surprise that this was the first thing they did after being released! – Acts 4:23-24

8. They Returned to their Brethren for Prayer
Praying for each other is vital to our mission!
Prayer keeps us focused on what God’s Will is – Mark 16:15-16; Acts 4:29-30
Prayer prepares us to GO and preach the Gospel – Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:2-6

9. They Prayed for Boldness to Evangelize
Satan uses the fear of persecution to hinder the Gospel
The early church was constantly persecuted for their faith – Acts 2:13-15; 4:1-3; 5:17-41; 6:
Today, the worst thing most of us will ever suffer is cultural intimidation, yet we’re even stifled by that!

10. They Prayed for Boldness to Evangelize
We must pray for greater BOLDNESS
We can’t allow the world to silence us with intimidation! – Romans 12:2; 1 John 4:4
We must stand up for Jesus and boldly proclaim Him to the world – Acts 4:18-20; Matthew 10:28

11. God Answered their Prayer
The place where they were meeting was shaken
This was a sign from God – Acts 4:31a
We need to pray that God will shake us up!

12. God Answered their Prayer
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit
God gave them supernatural courage – Acts 4:31b
They went forth and spoke the word of God boldly!
If we yield ourselves to God in prayer, the way they did, God will fill us with His Spirit and give us the courage we need, to GO and preach the Gospel to the world!