EXPLOSIVE PRAYERS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS (part 2)

The book of Acts shows the beginning of the newborn church after they had received the Holy Spirit. We also see the new prayer life of the believers after they had received the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ who made His disciples “men of prayer.” (Jesus Christ made “prayer warriors”) Prayer opened the heavens and brought the supernatural to this world. We see that God sends ANGELS, OPENS THE HEAVENS, SETS PRISONERS FREE, POURS OUT HIS SPIRIT ON BELIEVERS, LETS PRISONS AND BUILDINGS SHAKE, GIVES BOLDNESS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL, GIVES VISONS AND TRANCES, AND GIVES POWER TO HEAL AND DO MIRACLES, in answer to prayer. We will study how the first Church experienced amazing victories through prayer.

Acts 7:55-60  But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen was a powerful witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. His words were so powerful that people were cut to the heart and could only do two things. They could accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior and receive new life or murder the messenger of the good news. They chose to murder the messenger of the good news; they shouted and ran to Stephen and threw stones at him. 

Stephen saw heaven opened and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Stephen asked the Lord not to charge them with this sin, like the Lord Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." 

Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen UPON none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

The Apostles Peter and John went to the new believers in Samaria to pray for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. After they had prayed to God, they laid their hands on them and received the Holy Spirit. First, pray and then the laying on of hands!

After the believers repented and were baptized, they could ask for the Holy Spirit, which is promised to those who believe.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is promised to be poured out on sons and daughters.

Acts 2:18 And ON My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. We studied before that when we have a promise that we have to pray to activate the promises of God or ask God that the promise will be manifested. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself told His disciples that they could ask for the Holy Spirit. 

Luke 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

More places in the Bible where people received the Holy Spirit through praying and the laying on of hands. Acts 9:17, Acts 19:6, 1 Tim. 4:14, 2 Tim. 1:6

Acts 9:10-12 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight."

Ananias was a man of prayer and that is why the Lord could show him a vision to go visit Saul of Tarsus. In the same way, because Saul was in prayer, God could show him a vision about Ananias who should come to heal him. Prayer is not only about talking to God but also about listening. Lord, reveal your will to us! Those who seek the Lord with their heart will be used by Him.

Acts 9:17  And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

Ananias imparted to Saul what he had received from God through prayer. Ananias laid his hands on Saul and spoke the words God wanted him to speak. Saul’s eyes opened again, and he received the Holy Spirit. God wants to use people.

Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

After praying to God, Peter stood up and spoke with authority to the dead body, STAND UP! God's power works through those who pray and believe. Through prayer, the dead will come alive!

Acts 10:1-2 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

Here is a man who prayed to God continually. Cornelius regularly set time apart to come before God's throne. This is a man who can hear the voice of God. Cornelius prayed to God regularly, and he gave to the poor. 

Acts 10:3-4 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

God spoke to Cornelius through an angel in an awesome way. God knows our prayers, and He knows our giving. Every small detail is important to our God; everything is recorded in God's journal. God knows exactly what we do. Prayer opens the supernatural realm!

Acts 10:9-11 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.

We see that Peter did his prayer task in the sixth hour. In Israel, the people pray for the third, sixth, and ninth hours, three times a day. (9, 12, and 15 o’clock) At this moment, when Peter is praying and hungry, he falls into a trance and God gives Peter a new revelation. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and did many miracles, but there was still something lacking. God revealed to him that all people can come to God, including the Gentiles. (Acts 10:28) God could show this in a vision because Peter was in prayer, seeking God.

Acts 10:19-20 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you. 20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them."

Prayer is not only about talking to God but especially about listening to God. When God gives a vision or revelation through prayer, divine appointments are about to happen. God showed Peter what to do so that he would know that he is in the will of God to go to the Gentiles. 

Acts 10:30-31 So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.

We see now what can happen when people start to pray. God always wants to do new things. When we pray, we come between the Holy angels before God's throne. When we pray, the heavens start to move, even God's angels are used to bring a message. (See also the book of Daniel, the man of prayer)

Acts 11:5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me.

Peter was in a trance and saw a vision when he was praying to God. The meaning of the vision was that God calls the Gentiles to repentance and opens the door of the Kingdom to all who believe. This was a new concept for Peter, and it changed his life completely. Through prayer, we can receive visions, dreams, and trances from God and receive new revelations that were hidden before in the Word. 

The Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples to make disciples of all nations, but the Jewish minds were too blind to see this Word clearly. After a divine revelation through a vision, Peter could see and understand this Word clearly. May the Lord open our hearts and minds by His Spirit so that we understand the Word of God through a spirit of wisdom and revelation. 

Eph. 1:16-17 I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,