Start Off With Prayer

Pastor Timothy Chan

Chinese Grace Bible Church

July 17, 2011

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

 9 After he said this, he was taken up

before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

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Acts 1:1-14 (NIV 1984)

14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

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Introduction

The genesis of the Early Church is marked by two unique tracks. It is the birthing work of the Holy Spirit and the working of people in prayer.

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Introduction

It becomes remarkably clear when people of prayer come alongside the work of the Holy Spirit, there is great dynamics capable of transforming the enemies of the Gospel and overturning the greatest Empire known in the first century.

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Introduction

Such discovery reveals the deepest secret of His power found in His people.

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Introduction

Prayer is a high priority and a strategic ministry in the Early Church. Those who are used significantly by God always fulfill this ministry.

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Introduction

In just 30 years, a handful of disciples, followers and the family of Mary gathered in a small place turned the world upside down.

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Introduction

Prayer is the equipping tool God has graciously given to His people.

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1. Prayer empowers our testimony as the people of God _______________ and _______________ the work of the Holy Spirit.

correspond todepend on

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Acts 1:4 (NIV 1984)

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

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Acts 8:26, 29 (NIV 1984)

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

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Acts 8:26, 29 (NIV 1984)

29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

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John 14:17 (NIV 1984)

17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

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John 16:13 (NIV 1984)

13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

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Acts 16:6-10 (NIV 1984)

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.

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Acts 16:6-10 (NIV 1984)

7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

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Acts 16:6-10 (NIV 1984)

8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

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Acts 16:6-10 (NIV 1984)

9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

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Acts 16:6-10 (NIV 1984)

10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

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Ephesians 3:16 (NIV 1984)

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

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Luke 12:12 (NIV 1984)

12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

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2. Prayer _________ and ___________ our spiritual lives as the people of God yield to His ____________ in ________.

renews transforms

promisesfaith

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Acts 1:5 (NIV 1984)

5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

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Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV 1984)

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

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Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV 1984)

10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,

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Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV 1984)

11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

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John 14:26 (NIV 1984)

26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

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Luke 10:38-42 (NIV 1984)

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.

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Luke 10:38-42 (NIV 1984)

39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

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Luke 10:38-42 (NIV 1984)

40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

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Luke 10:38-42 (NIV 1984)

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,

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Luke 10:38-42 (NIV 1984)

42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

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3. Prayer ____________ the power of oneness as the people of God _______ His Word.

illustrates

obey

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Acts 1:14 (NIV 1984)

14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

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John 17:11 (NIV 1984)

11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.

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Acts 1:14 (NIV 1984)

14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

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Acts 4:23 (NIV 1984)

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

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Conclusion

We witness the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and His teaching.

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Conclusion

Greater still, we will need to put Grace church on active duty.

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Conclusion

We will need to experience the power of His transformation as we continue to pray in accordance with the Word and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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Conclusion

Are you ready to pray?

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Ezekiel 22:30-31 (NIV 1984)

30 “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.

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Ezekiel 22:30-31 (NIV 1984)

31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.”

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