When They Had Prayed

By | November 28, 1999

A sermon by: Dr. Dillard Hagan

One of my precious mentors who is most assuredly waiting on the saints in the presence of the Lord!

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

The book of Acts has much to say about sincere prayer:

  • Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
  • Acts 9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
  • Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
  • Acts 10:9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
  • Acts 12:12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
  • Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
  • Acts 21:5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

We want you to see seven distinct things that happened when these believers prayed.

  1. WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED:  Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
    1. God answered their prayers by shaking the place where they were praying and the people were shaken.
      • The place and the people were shaken!
    2. Ezekial 38:20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
    3. Matthew 28:4: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
  2. WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED: Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
    1. Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
    2. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
    3. Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 4:9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
    4. Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
  3. WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED: Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
    1. The believers had Gods message, the Word of God.
    2. They had the Holy Boldness to preach the message. Prayer gave this boldness.
      1. Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
      2. Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
      3. Acts 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
      4. Acts 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
      5. Acts 19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
  4. WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED: Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
    1. A multitude of believers… a numberless number, only God knew how many. Oh my soul, what a revival. This is what we need in our day. Or any day!
    2. When they had prayed… there was a great oneness! Oneness of heart and oneness of soul.
      1. Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
      2. Galations 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
      3. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
  5. WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED: Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
    1. Earthly possessions did not possess them, they did not have charge of them, and they did not control them. This is what prayer did. The Holy Spirit dominated them. May it be so Lord in our day.
    2. Acts 4:34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 4:35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
    3. These believers shared what they had, they never said what they had was mine and I will keep it. But they said what I have I will share with others. That’s the Spirit that we need.
  6. WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED: (Acts 4:33) And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
    1. Their Prayers gave them “Great Power”.
    2. They became great witnesses of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They had God’s message for the day. That message is the same for our day. Because of Prayer, they had great power to share the real message.
      • Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
      • Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
  7. WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED: Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
    1. God’s grace seasoned their lives and their living. The verse says… “Great Grace was upon them” He never changes. He is the same today. The same great grace wants to be upon us as His people. Will we permit it to be upon us? Only Prayer can bring it about.
    2. 1st Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
    3. 2nd Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

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