HOW TO PRAY...When The Pressure Is ON, The Stakes Are HUGE, and The Enemy Is Talking SMACK

DANGEROUS CHURCH – Part 6
September 21, 2008 * Chris Goins

Okay, aside from the longest message title in the history of titles, this is an important message. The content is crucial, especially for times like these. So, without further introduction, here are the notes from this past Sunday evening.


The Big Idea: Fear is one of the primary obstacles that keeps us from sharing our faith. The reality is: God is sovereign and we’ve been invited to be a “player” in what He is up to in our world. Being a part of the “big adventure” requires a big faith that asks God for the courage to speak up and share the greatest message ever given.


For Background: See Acts 3

Acts 4:4 (ESV), But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.


Acts 4:12 (NIV), “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”


Acts 4:13 (ESV), Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.


Acts 4:18-20 (MSG), They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. 20As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.”


Acts 4:23-26 (NIV), 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. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 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? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’” (Cf. Psalm 2:1-2)

Acts 4:27-31 (NIV), “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. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 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.


Four Realities:

1. An Awareness of the Power and Sovereignty of God Inspires Us To Pray For and Act with “Boldness.”

2. Boldness is not Reckless Impulsiveness. It is simply “Speaking Up” when the Opportunity “Pops Up.” It‘s the Courage To Press Through Your Fears and Do What You Know To Be Right.

3. For Reasons Only Known To Himself, God Has Invited Us To Be “Players” In The Most Important Activity In The Universe.

4. The Holy Spirit Ignites and Inspires Courage Even In The Face of Opposition.


Homework: Pray daily that God will “…enable you to speak His word with boldness…” (Acts 4:29)


Two By-Products of Praying for “Boldness”:

• You will become more aware of opportunities to share your faith.

• You will be forced to face your fears with courage.


Acknowledgement: Significant portions of this message were inspired by Andy Stanley’s message Fish Guts from his series Go Fish.