Give us a chance to look at a few outlines: A. Their Response To Jesus' Departure. The disciples of Jesus had left all to tail Him. But He had been caught like a typical criminal, erroneously censured, crucified and covered. What was their underlying reaction? We read that, "These all proceeded in unanimous agreement in prayer and supplic-ation, with the ladies and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His siblings."
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(Acts 1:14) After Jesus rose they returned to the Upper Room and hosted a pity gathering??? No, they had a prayer meeting! Their Lord, Savior and Friend had abandoned them. What did they do? They implored. Prayer was their underlying reaction to Jesus flight. What do we do when sensational and sudden occasions happen in our lives? B.
The Response Of Paul And Silas When In Prison. Another representation of the need of prayer in the early church is seen when Paul and Silas were in jail. How could they react to this uncalled for treatment? "At midnight Paul and Silas were asking and singing psalms to God, and the detainees were tuning in to them."
Acts16:25-26) Our underlying reaction – telephone a legal advisor! C. The Response To The Disaster. Paul was on a ship headed for Rome when an awesome tempest emerged. The ship was going to Sink and Paul froze! Isn't that so? Off-base! He went beneath deck and asked. The Lord revealed to him all eventual safe. He revealed this to the commander and energized the 276 wiped out, ocean drenched sailors to eat.
Acts 27 records that Paul: "took bread and offered gratitude to God within the sight of all; and when he had broken it he started to eat. At that point they were altogether supported, and furthermore took nourishment themselves. Furthermore, in all we were two hundred and seventy-six people on the ship." (Acts 27:35-37) D. The Response To The Opportunity To Minister.
The ocean adventure proceeds - when the ship steered into the rocks on the island of Miletus, the father of the boss there was debilitated. We read that "Paul entered in, and asked, and laid hands on him, and mended him." (Acts 28:8) Here are a few cases of numerous that could be refered to, when in outrageous circumstances that the early Christians got themselves, that their underlying reaction was to implore!
For some Christians prayer is the last response; for the early church prayer was the main asset! Their lifeline was prayer! What breath is to real life, prayer was to their otherworldly life. In the First Church, imploring was as normal as relaxing. Give us a chance to design temples and particularly our asking after the case of that First Fellowship of adherents.
