The Believers’ Prayer

”The Believers’ Prayer”

Acts 5:23-30

            Peter and John were questioned by the leaders of the Sanhedrin. On their release they returned to their people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said. They then raised their voices together in prayer. The words of this prayer:

Sovereign Lord, you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.

You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

            After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

            Peter and John’s prayer was shared amongst those who believed and supported what they said and did in Jesus’ name. They were disciples of Jesus and were now blessed by the Spirit to share Christ’s story. They believed in God and what Jesus was to do on earth. They were unsure of what would happen to them after performing a healing miracle. They were questioned by the authorities and upon release they gathered with fellow believers to pray to God.

            Peter and John’s life and ministry were at stake. After their release from questioning they gathered the people together to pray and were filled with the Holy Spirit. As communities of faith do we seek support with fellow believers through praying to God? Is the Holy Spirit in our churches or peeking into the windows and waiting for the invitation? Do we even acknowledge God and what God has done like Peter and John did in their prayers? Do we share Jesus’ story in our prayer as a believer in Christ? Do we believe as Peter and John did by sharing and showing our faith in all what we do? Are you able to share in this prayer as they did with their fellow believers or are we afraid?

PRAYER

Loving God we believe as Peter and John did but sometimes we wonder if it is worth the effort to share this and show it. Help us to share this amazing story of love shown in Jesus Christ and enable us to experience your Spirit in us. Shake us and renew our hearts so that we may share your hope and love with others. Amen.

BLOG QUESTION:

How relevant are the words of “The Believers’ Prayer” today? Peter and John spoke of God’s sovereignty/ power and ruling over all as the Creator. They questioned why people fight against each other and why government leaders gather against God and Jesus. Yet we too gather as church families and communities of faith to learn more about our God.

What were the results of Peter and John’s prayer at that time? What should we anticipate if we share these words? Do we really believe this? Let us truly pray for the Spirit to fill us up and enable us to share boldly God’s word.