disciples

Prayer and Teaching of the Disciples

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Acts 16:25 (NASB)
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

A Theme to Remember:
Many Christians feel uncomfortable publicly sharing their faith. Various reasons are given for this but their reluctance typically boils down to insecurity about what others will think. This passage shows that when we display our convictions – in this case by openly worshiping the Lord – not everyone will respond but most will respectfully listen. A lack of confidence is a poor reason to withhold the key to eternity.

Words to Remember:
The sweet sound of church singing flowed into my ears and the truth streamed into my heart.
–Augustine of Hippo

Prayer and Teaching of the Disciples

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Acts 13:2, 3 (NASB)
While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

A Theme to Remember:
Dedicating someone to the Lord’s work is not only a privilege; it’s a vitally important task. No one whose life is fully devoted to serving God – whether they are a pastor, a missionary, a Christian teacher, or are otherwise engaged in full-time ministry – will fully succeed without the regular, interceding prayers of fellow believers.

Words to Remember:
Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, and confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves, to attain what we seek for the Kingdom of God.
–Andrew Murray

Prayer and Teaching of the Disciples

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Acts 12:5 (NASB)
So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.

A Theme to Remember:
Prayer and the Divine providence are closely related. They stand in close companionship. They cannot possibly be separated. So closely connected are they that to deny one is to abolish the other. Prayer supposes providence, while providence is the result of and belongs to prayer. All answers to prayer are but the intervention of the providence of God in the affairs of His people. Providence has to do specially with praying people. Prayer, providence and the Holy Spirit are a trinity, which cooperate with each other and are in perfect harmony with one another. Prayer is but the request of men and women for God through the Holy Spirit to interfere on behalf of those who pray. (Adapted from E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer)

Words to Remember:
The secret of the constancy of grace and virtue lies in the perseverance in prayer.
–John Cassian

Prayer and Teaching of the Disciples

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Acts 10:9-15 (NASB)
On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”

A Theme to Remember:
In this passage we see clearly that the redeeming blood of Jesus was shed for Jews and Gentiles alike. Peter, as an observant Jew, would not have touched the creatures he saw in the vision because they were unclean according to the Mosaic law. Likewise, he would not have entered the home of an “unclean” Gentile to share the Gospel message. God was correcting Peter, and revealing to us, that all who call on the name of Jesus are cleansed and made whole.

Words to Remember:
Beware lest we mistake our prejudices for our convictions.
–Harry Ironside

Prayer and Teaching of the Disciples

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Acts 9:36-42 (NASB)
Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. But Peter sent 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. And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

A Theme to Remember:
This may be said as truly of prayer as it is said of the God of prayer. The mysteries of death have been fathomed by prayer, and its victims have been brought back to life by the power of prayer, because God holds dominion over death, and prayer reaches where God reigns. (Adapted from E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer)

Words to Remember:
Godliness is glory in the seed, and glory is godliness in the flower.
–William Gurnall