WEBVTT 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:04.000 So as I said earlier, we're continuing the series on prayer. 00:00:05.139 --> 00:00:10.460 And today we're going to be looking and learning about how to pray with urgency and boldness 00:00:10.460 --> 00:00:13.980 when we face difficult times and we need courage. 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:19.940 So the passage in Acts that Cherry's just read is set during the early life of the church, 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:27.660 at a time when the church was experiencing both massive growth, but also massive persecution. 00:00:27.660 --> 00:00:35.520 And two of the church leaders, Peter and John, had just been arrested by the authorities for preaching about him. 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:42.500 But before we dig into the passage, I think it's really good to acknowledge that although we in this room, 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:48.200 we're not probably facing death, but actually we in the Western Church face our own challenges, 00:00:48.579 --> 00:00:53.740 which are similar but different to the ones that Peter and John did. 00:00:53.740 --> 00:01:03.400 So like the early church in Acts, we here also are here to proclaim the gospel of the good news to all those around us. 00:01:03.820 --> 00:01:07.099 They were given a great commission by Jesus and so are we. 00:01:07.320 --> 00:01:10.060 And that has to be, as a church, our top priority. 00:01:11.500 --> 00:01:16.700 And like the early church, we also have many reasons to rejoice. 00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:22.560 Even though we've been through a horrific pandemic, this church has actually grown in numbers 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:27.060 and it is amazing to see new faces each week and we really rejoice in that. 00:01:27.859 --> 00:01:33.560 And also we rejoice in the opportunities that we've had to actually love our local communities 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:38.620 through TLG, through the Make Lunch, through all the things we've been doing, 00:01:38.820 --> 00:01:42.680 through bereavement stuff just over the past couple of years and continuing on, 00:01:42.780 --> 00:01:44.420 all the amazing things we've been able to do. 00:01:44.420 --> 00:01:48.280 But we've also had massive challenges as a church. 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:51.960 We've been through COVID lockdowns and all that that's brought. 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:55.719 We've had deaths of loved members of our community. 00:01:56.680 --> 00:01:59.980 Our finances, like every church in the country, they've been tightened 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:03.379 and so it's difficult to kind of do the ministry we need to do 00:02:03.379 --> 00:02:04.900 because we're worried about finance. 00:02:05.659 --> 00:02:08.520 We've got lack of volunteers. People are taking time to come back 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:12.020 and actually not so many people are volunteering and getting stuck in. 00:02:12.020 --> 00:02:14.240 They don't feel they're able to at this time sometimes. 00:02:14.419 --> 00:02:18.639 And people still feeling isolated and people still being ill. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:20.359 And the list goes on and on. 00:02:22.259 --> 00:02:26.699 And we're also living in an increasingly secular and materialistic society. 00:02:27.419 --> 00:02:30.799 A society where Christians that are open about their faith 00:02:30.799 --> 00:02:34.639 are more and more looked upon with suspicion and hostility. 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:38.739 And also a society where people think we actually really don't need God. 00:02:39.519 --> 00:02:46.079 And at home, I know many people have faced many challenges, frustrations and anxieties. 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:53.319 Some of them brought on by COVID, people having poor health, job insecurity, relationship difficulties. 00:02:53.699 --> 00:02:54.659 The list goes on. 00:02:54.659 --> 00:03:01.620 But faced by these challenges, we can be tempted to just run for the hills and ignore it all. 00:03:02.659 --> 00:03:04.939 And throw up our hands in despair. 00:03:06.060 --> 00:03:10.740 But this passage that we're going to look at in a minute teaches us that no, we're not to do that. 00:03:10.740 --> 00:03:15.900 So the passage, as Cherry said, started halfway through a story. 00:03:16.740 --> 00:03:18.080 Peter and John have been released. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:20.260 Why have they been in prison? 00:03:20.580 --> 00:03:21.640 Why are they now released? 00:03:22.040 --> 00:03:23.280 And who's been holding them? 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:25.540 It's quite an exciting story. 00:03:26.320 --> 00:03:29.600 And in the context that Cherry said, they'd been out, they'd been preaching, 00:03:29.800 --> 00:03:33.360 they'd healed the guy that had been lame for 40 years. 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:46.960 And then the authorities, who basically hated the disciples, wanted to shut them all down, 00:03:47.380 --> 00:03:49.860 basically give them a massive threat. 00:03:52.380 --> 00:03:53.960 And they throw them into prison. 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:56.060 I imagine they beat them the night before. 00:03:56.540 --> 00:04:00.340 And then they bring them out again to find out, interrogate them, what's been going on. 00:04:00.340 --> 00:04:04.800 And Peter and John, rather than being quiet, Peter says his sermon again, 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:10.539 basically because of Jesus and his healing spirit, this is why this lame guy has been healed. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:13.879 And look at all the people that have repented and turned to Christ. 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:19.300 And the Pharisees and the Sadducees, they don't want to cause a riot. 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:22.699 So they get them together, Peter and John, and they basically say, 00:04:22.860 --> 00:04:24.980 we're banning you now from talking about Jesus. 00:04:25.399 --> 00:04:28.160 Now this is not just a friendly little chat that they're having here. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:29.759 This is a real threat. 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:31.779 It's a, we're going to beat you up. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:32.879 We're going to break your legs. 00:04:33.079 --> 00:04:34.699 We might even kill you kind of a threat. 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:36.259 But what do they do? 00:04:36.599 --> 00:04:39.019 They continue to speak about Jesus, 00:04:39.339 --> 00:04:42.459 and they go back to their little fledgling church. 00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:47.180 So after that long-winded introduction, 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:48.680 we look at the passage. 00:04:49.159 --> 00:04:51.159 So 23 to 31 says, 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:52.620 So it tells us, 00:04:52.620 --> 00:05:04.120 So Peter and John had experienced all of this. 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:05.520 The guy being healed, 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:07.600 the 5,000 people turning to God, 00:05:07.980 --> 00:05:11.480 their brutal imprisonment and interrogation the next morning, 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:15.200 and the terrifying threats that had been made to them. 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:17.279 And they go back to their church. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:19.219 And what does their church do? 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:21.240 Do they run for the hills? 00:05:21.779 --> 00:05:22.099 No. 00:05:22.779 --> 00:05:26.959 They pray urgently after all they've been told. 00:05:27.579 --> 00:05:28.079 And it says, 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:29.399 With one voice, 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:32.779 they lifted and raised their voices in prayer to God. 00:05:33.219 --> 00:05:35.219 So their response wasn't to revolt. 00:05:35.539 --> 00:05:36.659 It wasn't to run away. 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:37.860 It wasn't to riot. 00:05:37.860 --> 00:05:39.220 But what they did is, 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:42.100 they turned their concerns to God 00:05:42.100 --> 00:05:43.680 in that scary situation. 00:05:44.980 --> 00:05:46.360 And why did they do this? 00:05:47.060 --> 00:05:48.420 Well, I think they did this 00:05:48.420 --> 00:05:50.560 because they knew who God is. 00:05:51.340 --> 00:05:53.040 As the prayer continues, it says, 00:05:53.180 --> 00:05:55.000 And with their prayer, they say, 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:56.300 Sovereign Lord, 00:05:56.620 --> 00:05:58.340 you made the heavens and the earth 00:05:58.340 --> 00:06:00.620 and the sea and everything in it. 00:06:01.220 --> 00:06:01.939 They are saying, 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:04.240 God, you are the biggest and the best, 00:06:04.500 --> 00:06:06.319 the most powerful one that there is. 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:07.840 There is no higher name. 00:06:07.939 --> 00:06:08.920 No one higher than you. 00:06:09.520 --> 00:06:10.540 And it's not just Lord. 00:06:10.660 --> 00:06:11.740 It's Sovereign Lord. 00:06:11.900 --> 00:06:13.520 It's Lord with a capital L. 00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:17.480 The biggest name under heaven and earth. 00:06:19.420 --> 00:06:21.180 And like them for us, 00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:23.259 it's really important for us 00:06:23.259 --> 00:06:26.379 that we are also sure about who God is. 00:06:26.780 --> 00:06:29.379 If we want to be an out-facing church, 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:32.199 which is all about discipleship, evangelism, 00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:33.800 and being on God's mission together, 00:06:34.080 --> 00:06:36.220 telling people how much Jesus loves them 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:37.360 and living a bold life, 00:06:37.860 --> 00:06:39.900 we need to know who God is 00:06:39.900 --> 00:06:41.360 and what he can do, 00:06:41.699 --> 00:06:43.139 how magnificent he is, 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:46.259 and we serve a God that doesn't make empty promises. 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:48.840 He's got the power to overcome death. 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:50.879 He's the beginning and the end. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.839 And by him and through him, 00:06:52.839 --> 00:06:54.199 all things are made. 00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:57.980 Planets in motion and set the stars in the sky. 00:06:58.420 --> 00:07:00.219 That is the God that we worship 00:07:00.219 --> 00:07:02.740 and we want to encounter through Jesus Christ. 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:05.920 And that is the God that the early church knew. 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:09.159 God had just raised Jesus from the dead. 00:07:09.579 --> 00:07:11.319 Of course he could heal a crippled man 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:13.100 and save 5,000 people. 00:07:13.339 --> 00:07:15.420 He just raised Jesus from the dead. 00:07:15.420 --> 00:07:18.480 To them, the threats from the Sadducees 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:19.500 don't seem to matter. 00:07:20.860 --> 00:07:23.220 And that is the God that we want to present to the world 00:07:23.220 --> 00:07:25.720 as we go out, just as Peter and John did, 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:28.280 to meet the needs of those around us, 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:31.379 speaking God's word of new life, 00:07:31.860 --> 00:07:35.360 resurrection, of hope, love, grace, and mercy. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:39.879 We can be bold to proclaim Christ 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:42.580 because we have a God who backs this up. 00:07:43.060 --> 00:07:44.540 He is the sovereign Lord 00:07:44.540 --> 00:07:46.879 and we need to know who he is. 00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:50.780 But knowing all that doesn't make it any easier 00:07:50.780 --> 00:07:52.400 as we continue on with the prayer. 00:07:58.780 --> 00:08:02.100 So if we look at verses 26 and 27, it continues. 00:08:02.100 --> 00:08:05.860 Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain? 00:08:06.420 --> 00:08:08.200 The kings of the earth rise up 00:08:08.200 --> 00:08:10.379 and the rulers band together against the Lord 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:12.160 and against the anointed one. 00:08:12.860 --> 00:08:15.260 Indeed, Herod and Pontius Pilate met together 00:08:15.260 --> 00:08:18.480 with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:21.540 to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, 00:08:21.780 --> 00:08:22.600 whom you anointed. 00:08:23.820 --> 00:08:25.700 So what they're doing here, I think, 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:27.340 is they're praying through scripture. 00:08:27.540 --> 00:08:29.420 It's the first part of Psalm 2. 00:08:30.020 --> 00:08:31.300 They're praying through scripture 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:33.840 and they're echoing it in their own situation. 00:08:34.680 --> 00:08:36.299 They're saying whatever is going on, 00:08:36.940 --> 00:08:39.659 the political, the social, and the hierarchical powers 00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:42.840 that plotted against Jesus to crush him, 00:08:44.139 --> 00:08:48.539 even he, who was God, he suffered and died. 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:50.440 So what about them? 00:08:51.460 --> 00:08:53.860 Well, the hope we have for them and us 00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:56.299 for suffering is Jesus' name. 00:08:56.399 --> 00:08:57.960 As we live and speak for Jesus, 00:08:57.960 --> 00:09:00.480 we are going to suffer for his name. 00:09:00.940 --> 00:09:04.920 Now that is really tough to say and to think about. 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:07.660 But if we are fully sold out for Jesus, 00:09:07.900 --> 00:09:09.400 if we're all in for him, 00:09:09.680 --> 00:09:12.060 we are going to experience suffering in our lives. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:16.400 Christ himself experienced suffering for our sake. 00:09:17.180 --> 00:09:18.920 Peter and John were all in for Jesus. 00:09:19.820 --> 00:09:22.200 If we look through the pages of Christian history, 00:09:22.340 --> 00:09:23.379 they're marked with suffering. 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:26.519 All the 12 disciples, bar one, were martyred. 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:29.939 If you follow charities like Open Doors, 00:09:30.100 --> 00:09:30.720 things like that, 00:09:30.919 --> 00:09:33.200 and you hear about Christians being persecuted 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:34.279 all over the world, 00:09:34.700 --> 00:09:36.580 look at the Chinese church for an example. 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:41.320 In 1980, there were 700,000 Christians living in China, 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:43.360 living under a brutal dictatorship 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:46.139 where Christianity is definitely not encouraged 00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:47.679 and it still carries on today. 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:52.099 And now they're in the region of over 40 million Christians. 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:55.799 Both massive faith and suffering. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:58.339 And we hear many other stories 00:09:58.339 --> 00:10:01.939 through countries like Syria and Afghanistan, 00:10:02.319 --> 00:10:04.159 Iraq, where there are Christians, 00:10:04.319 --> 00:10:05.199 there's faith growing, 00:10:05.299 --> 00:10:06.519 maybe underground churches, 00:10:06.739 --> 00:10:08.539 actually they're under a lot of persecution. 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:10.679 And what I would say is, 00:10:10.779 --> 00:10:12.519 although we're probably never going to be 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:13.379 under that persecution, 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:16.980 it is vital that we support charities 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:18.059 such as Open Doors 00:10:18.059 --> 00:10:20.120 and we also pray fervently 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:21.259 for our brothers and sisters 00:10:21.259 --> 00:10:23.039 that are in those countries being persecuted. 00:10:23.659 --> 00:10:24.860 And we thank him every day 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:26.460 that we are not in that situation. 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:29.559 So I'm not saying that anybody here 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:30.460 is going to be killed. 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:33.659 I think that most people living here in the UK 00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:35.240 are not called to die for him, 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:38.799 but we are called to live for him while we can. 00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:41.919 So we will all experience suffering for his name. 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:45.559 And it's our response to that suffering 00:10:45.559 --> 00:10:47.500 that we're going to be judged by, by the world. 00:10:48.339 --> 00:10:50.559 So if we're going to be all in with God 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:52.679 and we're going to nail our flags to the cross, 00:10:53.439 --> 00:10:54.979 actually other things don't matter. 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:59.539 My reputation, my name, my comfort, my security, 00:10:59.979 --> 00:11:01.139 what actually does it matter? 00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:03.319 If we stand boldly with God, 00:11:03.819 --> 00:11:06.759 we can withstand oppression and persecution. 00:11:07.319 --> 00:11:08.860 Whatever that may look like, 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:11.579 we must ask him to help us to stand. 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:14.019 And if when we're struggling, 00:11:14.199 --> 00:11:15.419 rather than being really struggling, 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:18.159 being overwhelmed by our worries and our concerns, 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:20.019 let's try and be overwhelmed 00:11:20.019 --> 00:11:22.539 by the magnificent God through prayer. 00:11:23.179 --> 00:11:24.860 And therefore, we cannot help but speak 00:11:24.860 --> 00:11:26.759 about what we have heard and experienced. 00:11:27.479 --> 00:11:29.620 If we go all in with God, 00:11:29.699 --> 00:11:30.899 as the early Christians did, 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:32.959 we'll see more of this God 00:11:32.959 --> 00:11:34.759 that was all in for us. 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:37.839 Our sovereign Lord who emptied himself on the cross 00:11:37.839 --> 00:11:39.740 to die that humiliating death. 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:41.220 And because of this, 00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:42.980 we can empty ourselves out too 00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:44.919 because Jesus has done it. 00:11:45.299 --> 00:11:47.740 There's no need to gain status or reputation. 00:11:48.560 --> 00:11:50.220 And we can accept some suffering. 00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:51.960 We can go all in for God. 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:54.600 And then this bold and urgent prayer 00:11:54.600 --> 00:11:56.200 continues on to verse 29. 00:11:56.580 --> 00:11:57.039 And it says, 00:11:57.039 --> 00:12:06.159 So these Christians here, 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:07.319 they weren't actually asking 00:12:07.319 --> 00:12:08.819 to take the suffering away 00:12:08.819 --> 00:12:10.500 or even to alleviate it. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:11.919 With this prayer, 00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:14.279 they're asking God to give them boldness 00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:16.539 to enable them to stand firm 00:12:16.539 --> 00:12:17.860 in the face of suffering. 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:20.219 They're not questioning God's goodness 00:12:20.219 --> 00:12:22.139 at this time of trial and persecution, 00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:23.240 but instead, 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:25.879 they are committed to proclaiming the name of Jesus. 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:27.980 They are fully convinced 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:29.419 that the love and strength of God 00:12:29.419 --> 00:12:31.100 and are prepared to endure 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:32.259 what they need to do 00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:33.379 to proclaim his name. 00:12:34.059 --> 00:12:35.480 And their prayer for boldness 00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:36.740 is answered by the coming 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:37.759 of the Holy Spirit 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:38.659 and an earthquake. 00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:40.600 And it's not the earthquake 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:41.580 that they're looking for. 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:44.139 Or it's also not the shaking 00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:45.299 and maybe the strange thing 00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:46.319 that might have been going on 00:12:46.319 --> 00:12:47.620 with the Holy Spirit being there. 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:49.299 But it is the Holy Spirit 00:12:49.299 --> 00:12:50.500 that's within them 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:52.740 that takes them and fills them 00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:54.220 and gives them boldness 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:55.360 and sends them out. 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.399 And if when you get home, 00:12:57.560 --> 00:12:59.179 you go on to chapter 5, 00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:00.580 you will see that the apostles 00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:02.620 performed many signs and wonders 00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.560 among the people. 00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:05.960 And the believers met. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:08.240 They didn't really want to join them, 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:09.659 but they saw their example. 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:11.279 And because of that, 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:13.259 many turned to faith afterwards. 00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:16.500 So there was no clever trick 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:18.460 or fantastic video 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:19.879 or brilliant worship song. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:21.200 By their example, 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:22.299 the church grew. 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:24.740 So to conclude my talk, 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:26.440 the three things to think about 00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:28.659 is knowing that Lord is sovereign, 00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:30.039 we must know who God is. 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:32.139 We must be willing to suffer 00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:33.120 for the name of Jesus. 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:35.419 And we must remain faithful 00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:37.080 to him through it. 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:40.039 And when suffering comes, 00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:41.080 we're not to run away, 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:42.899 but we need to know 00:13:42.899 --> 00:13:44.740 that God's in that suffering with us. 00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:47.120 A God that is Father, 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:48.240 Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:49.580 He is creator, 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:51.200 sustainer, and redeemer. 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:52.840 He's rich in love 00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:53.879 and slow to anger. 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:55.680 No tower too high 00:13:55.680 --> 00:13:57.419 and no landscape too wide. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.279 He has numbered the stars 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:00.039 in the sky. 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:02.519 No name unknown 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.980 or hair accounted for. 00:14:04.680 --> 00:14:05.680 He's all-knowing, 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:06.580 all-loving, 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:07.680 and all-powerful. 00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:10.500 And it's by going all in 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:12.440 with great and glorious God 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:13.800 that we can be bold. 00:14:14.420 --> 00:14:15.500 For he is the kingdom, 00:14:16.280 --> 00:14:17.280 he is the power, 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:19.300 and he is the glory 00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:21.200 forever and ever. 00:14:22.060 --> 00:14:22.380 Amen.