What we pray reflects what we believe about God If God answered your prayers this week, would our world be any different?

An equation: BOLD prayers + BOLD messages = BOLD results

What we pray reflects what we believe about God BIG prayers….BIG God!

BOLD words: “Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12 (NLT)

Amazed at the boldness of these “idiots”: The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NLT)

The world’s plan to deal with bold believers: “What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:16-18 (NIV)

A bold believer’s response: Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20 (NLT)

We will not recant: “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and by plain reason and not by Popes and councils who have so often contradicted themselves, my conscience is captive to the word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot and I will not recant. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. – Martin Luther

A prayer meeting breaks out: As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God. Acts 4:23-24 (NLT)

These believers gathered to: Pray for boldness “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” Acts 4:29

These believers gathered to: Pray for miracles “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." Acts 4:30

Prayers for boldness: -Baptisms & New Births! -Good Old Days Outreach – Sept. 8 th ! -Two Services – Sept. 9th – practice weekend -Hundreds to Respond to Our Invitations - Sept. 16 th ! -YOU to volunteer in Kidzone one Sunday Service per month!!

God’s response to bold prayers of this nature: 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. Acts 4:31