On Mission with God Praying toward the Mission (Acts 4:23-31)
• We cannot be on mission with God as the primary purpose of the church without prayer.
• The specifics, the wisdom, of how we are going to walk out this mission are going to come through prayer.
o The power and empowerment for this mission to be effective are going to come from prayer.
• If the primary purpose of the church is to make Jesus known, then it stands to reason that the bulk of the church’s praying should be geared toward the mission of making Jesus known.
Acts 4: 23-31 The Apostles Peter and John have been on mission with God, making Jesus known.
• And for their efforts they get arrested.
Verse 29 They are still praying, and praying for more boldness.
• More boldness to preach the Word of God to make Jesus known.
o Yet it was preaching with great boldness that got them thrown in jail.
Verse 30 Their prayer continues by asking that God would perform miracles.
• They are praying for opportunities to see miracles among the people who are persecuting them.
o They are praying for miracles among the people who just tried to kill them.
• This is what it looks like to pray toward the mission of God.
o Pray with the gathered church in unity, one voice
o Pray with worship, acknowledge the Lord as creator
o Pray with an understanding of the sovereignty of God
Especially in regards to persecution and opposition.
o Pray for more boldness to preach and share the Gospel, make Jesus known.
o Pray for opportunities to see God do miracles among the people who are far from God.
Verse 31 God gives His yes, by shaking the room. And…they were all filled again with the Holy Spirit.
• They had already been filled at Pentecost. Here they are filled again with purpose, to make Jesus known.
• We need to be filled again, and again, to be on mission with God, to make Jesus known.
Personal prayer: The primary prayer of the church should be toward the mission.
• Therefore, the primary purpose of our individual prayers should also be toward mission.
Praying for mission direction: The Apostles received their missionary marching orders through prayer.
o In Acts 10 in a time of prayer God gives Peter a vision to go to the Gentiles.
• Many times, in Paul’s missionary journeys he was told where to go or where not to go through prayer.
• Acts 16:7-10 God speaks through the Spirit and through visions, because of their praying.
What does this look like for our church? Come to our prayer meetings Wed night, First Fri, pray toward mission
What does this look like for me as an individual? Start your own list, pray for people far from God
Keep a prayer journal So you can see where God is working
Be ready for the unexpected God will work toward His mission in ways we weren’t expecting
On Mission with God: Praying toward the Mission
