30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
01 Acts 06 01-07 THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL AS THE CHURCH LEARNS TO SERVE 08 Acts 06 04 Commitment to pray
📖 Acts 06:01-07
08 – 19Jul2023 – *Commitment to pray* - _Acts 06:01-07_ - THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL AS THE CHURCH LEARNS TO SERVE - Bible reading: _Ephesians 06:18_
Lord Jesus, our prayer life is pathetic. Please have mercy on us for we have much to learn about prayer. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
_Acts 6:4 but *we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word*."_
Having done what was needed to be done to take godly action on the matter of the Hellenist widows, the apostles made it clear that their priority was to give themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word.
What was the ministry of the apostles? _Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers._ This was the substance of the ministry of the apostles.
We can see that the matter of the daily distribution was a subset within the life of His church. Therefore, the apostles would be constantly observing and experiencing the impact of the effort of the leaders chosen by the disciples, in handling this crisis.
Prayer was a major part of the life of the apostles. Prayer for the apostles was to listen to the voice of God. They needed desperately to listen to the Master, their King, on all matters. They and all of us are co-rulers with God in His kingdom.
The apostles knew that their ministry was a ministry before God and not before people. _I Thessalonians 2:4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts._
The apostles knew that they were human and were therefore vulnerable. They needed to be in prayer so that they would overcome sin and temptation. _Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."_
The Lord set for us a model life of prayer. _Mark 1:35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed._ / _Matthew 14:23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there._ / _Luke 6:12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God._
The Lord appointed the twelve apostles to first be with Him and then He sent them out to preach. _Mark 3:14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,_ This is the sequence that can never be reversed. We need to first learn to be with Him. When we are with Him, He will build us in the inner spirit-man. He will then send us out to preach.
The apostles also knew that they needed to be in much prayer for His church. _Ephesians 3:14-19 For this reason *I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ*, (15) from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (16) *that He would grant you*, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, (17) that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— (19) to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God._
As we see the prayer concern of the apostles for His church, we see that they prayed deeply for His church. We, as leaders of His church, in our times, have much to learn from the prayer life of the apostles.
Their prayer for His church was with perseverance and supplication. Do we pray persevering prayer and do we plead before God for the growth of His church? Our prayer life seems so often very much centred on ourselves.
_Ephesians 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—_
The prayer life of the apostles was spiritual warfare by which they engaged and put the enemy to flight. _Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places._
They demolished the devil’s structures of evil through prayer. _II Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (6) and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled._
As His people, we have much to learn in this matter of prayer. We hardly listen to God for He has much to communicate with us and through us.
```Will we commit ourselves, first and foremost, to pray?```