11/13/16 “THE PRAYER GOD ANSWERS” – Pastor Shane Idleman

Complete Sermon Notes

The Prayer God Answers

ACTS 4:15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”

• Trying to silence the voice of truth is nothing new.

A famous quote keeps coming to mind, “In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

Be careful where you’re getting your information from – the media does influence.

1. WE ARE NOT RACISTS – incident in Lancaster

2. WE ARE NOT WARMONGERS

3. WE DON’T HATE REFUGEES

4. WE DON’T HATE THOSE IN THE LGBT COMMUNITY

5. HARD WORK IS VERY GOOD FOR AMERICA – free is not “free”.

Choose hope not fear. Those who do not forgive or release bitterness, anger, and hurt, never experience freedom, happiness, or genuine HOPE. It all starts here: Ephesians 4:31-32 encourages us to “let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. 22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

• One example of when to disobey the law of the land.

A Prayer for Boldness – 4:23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ ~ Psalm 2

• Always reinforce who God is – You Are God.

27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” Context is persecution.

Parrhesia [par-rhay-see-ah] – frankness, candor, and courage produced by the Holy Spirit.

Boldness is the opposite of fearfulness – To be bold implies a willingness to get things done despite the risks.

• I’m scared and paralyzed is not a formula for success when praying

Boldness is Faith Walked – out

1. I want my marriage restored – here is what it will cost me.

2. I want to be involved in ministry – here is what it will cost me.

3. I want to be filled with the Spirit – here is what it will cost me.

4. I want to speak your word – here is what it will cost me.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. HIGH PRIEST IN OUR WEAKNESS

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

• GOD ANSWERED – The filling is the equipping. Wait a minute – weren’t they filled earlier?

It’s not just a bold prayer God answers – the pipeline of communication has to be cleared –

JAMES 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you spend it on your pleasures.

* BOLDNESS IS THE RESULT OF BEING FILLED – AND BEING FILLED IS THE RESULT OF BEING HOLY – AND BEING HOLY IS THE RESULT OF OUR DAILY CHOICES.

The desire for pleasure diminishes the work of the Spirit – “Men do not pray well because they do not live well.” EM Bounds

Ray Stedman on a self-focused prayer, “Dear Father, I don’t want to disobey You, but I must have my own way at all costs. For I love what You do not love, and I want what You do not want. So please be a good God and deny Yourself, and move off Your throne, and let me take over. If You don’t like this, then all I ask is that You bite Your lip and say or do nothing that will spoil my plans, and let me enjoy myself.”

David Wilkerson’s article http://sermons.worldchallenge.org/en/node/33654 – What’s in your life that keeps you from going on in the full blessing of Christ? [WHAT IS BLOCKING BOLD PRAYERS?] You were doing so well at one time. I know you to be a praying people, and you labor diligently to do good works, but something is wrong. I don’t see you growing anymore. Instead, you’ve gone back to relying on your flesh. I don’t sense the sweet aroma of Christ you once had…Something’s hindering you. What could have persuaded you to settle in this condition?

Whatever it is, I tell you it’s not of God…Something is clouding you, something you may be holding on to…I know so many Christians today who once were mightily used of God. These people were devoted, praying, believing saints. But then something happened to them that somehow caused them to be hindered from experiencing the fullness of the blessing of Christ…Often that hindering leaven was a single besetting sin. To all such people, Paul asks, “What happened? What’s hindering the flow of Christ’s blessing in your life? What leaven has crept in?” – “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9).

• Bold prayers come from seeking God – they come when repentance takes place; they come when we reposition our heart with His.

Examples from the past: Martin Luther prayed and the church was reformed. When John Knox prayed Scotland was revived. When John Wesley prayed America was restored. When George Whitefield prayed nations were changed. When D.L. Moody prayed America fell to her knees. When Amy Carmichael prayed India received the gospel. And so it goes…beginning with the disciples who prayed in an upper room 2000 years ago. When you pray, you move the hand of God. The dry, dead lethargic condition of the church simply reflects an impotent prayer life.

• THERE’S NO BOLDNESS BECAUSE THERE’S NO SPIRITUAL LIFE!

Communion: BRANT COMES UP- ELEMENTS

– Isaiah 53:4-9 (NKJV) 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

• Examine your heart – don’t take this in an unworthy matter.

TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION

TODAY IS THE DAY WE FULLY SURRENDER

TODAY IS THE DAY THE PRODIGAL COMES HOME

TODAY IS THE DAY LIVES ARE CHANGED, MARRIAGES RENEWED, AND FAMILIES…

COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE –