The Most Powerful Prayer Nobody Prays [Part 1]

Pastor author and Bible teacher Alan writing it when you hear a hero story. Isn't there something within you say I want this like that through Alan Wright another message of good view that will help you see your life in a whole new light.

I'm Daniel excited for you to hear the teaching today. In the series limited as presented at renewal.

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Right now you can be yours for your donation this month to Alan Wright Ministries as you listen to today's message go deeper as we send you today's special offer. Contact us at pastoralan.org Pastor Alan.org or call 877-544-4860 that's 877-544-4860. More on this later in the program right now. Let's get started with today's teaching here is Alan Wright are you ready for some good news anyone anyone can be brave because boldness comes from the Holy Spirit and anyone can be filled with the Holy Spirit. When a new series on the book of acts we call unlimited because it's about the limitless impact of the church of Jesus Christ as we see in a study of the book of acts, and we are in acts chapter 4 today so if you have your Bible with you. You can follow along and put some scriptures up on the screen as well and I want to start with just two verses that were going to look at many scriptures in acts chapter 4 ask for verse 29, and now Lord look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness while you stretch out your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus well. April 12, 1999. It seemed like it was an ordinary day, and the city of Atlanta for firefighter Matt Mosley, but it turned out to be anything other than an ordinary day. The fire that was at the site of the former Fulton bag and cotton mill was undergoing a massive place undergoing a massive renovation developer turning these this old mill into loft apartments and a fire had broken out. Winds were blustery that day and what started as a small fire soon was just raging Matt Mosley. This young firefighter has his first task was to try to clear out some of the building. Make sure there were no bodies still in the building and he said that they were.

He was about a floor I had of the collapse of the building and he remembered thinking this is that were done were not gonna make it out of here, but they did make it out of the building and when he and other firefighters made their way back over to the command post. They notice it. Everybody was looking up into the sky so they pause and looked up with them at the 250 foot crane that was over this huge renovation project at the old mill and what they saw, made their jaws drop. There was a man trapped atop that 250 foot crane Ivers Sims. He was the crane operator and the cab where the machinery was from which he was operating to become overheated and soon was engulfed in flames. So he walked across the burning steel, which was too hot to stay on and founded the very end of the crane. The concrete weights that are counterbalanced for the crane and he had purchased himself atop the concrete weights in hopes that someone could rescue him. He was therefore an hour there was no time and they said for them to bring in say military that had been trained for such a feat. Engineers on the ground said that before long the searing heat would cause the steel to buckle and it would collapse and Ivers Sims would certainly die so they needed to try a daring helicopter rescue and they needed to use one of those Atlanta firefighters without much thought. Young Matt Mosley said I'll go. He said that his boss gave him a quick pep talk and then they strapped him to an 80 foot rope what was going to have to happen is that they would have to hoist him over the fire and over the crane in the midst of these horrible updrafts from the heat and real blustery winds and they would have to avoid Matt Mosley, the firefighter being crushed against the crane himself or being burned, they would have to avoid. Of course, accidentally bumping into Sims and knocking him off to his death. Somehow Mosley would have to get hold of the crane find his way over to Sam's climb up to meet him harness him him and they would make the rescue.

At first it looked like it was going to be impossible because he was just dangling in the wind was blowing in the entire event was seen by a live action news on national TV to Interstate 75 was shut down as he's just swaying in the breeze. 300 feet above the ground and at first like it to be impossible because he was face the wrong way, but Mosley said that in his words, the Lord said here you go and turned me around. He said, and suddenly he was able to catch hold of the crane set when he looked down on the crane he saw black footprints and realize it. Ivers Sims shoes had been melting as he walked across the steel of the crane. He climbed up onto the concrete and he managed to get Sims harnessed in with him and soon the helicopter was lifting them off of high over the burning site and brought them safe to the ground afterwords is Sims was treated for smoke inhalation and some heat exhaustion. Matt Mosley, the firefighter was fine and everybody wanted to interview him and he said I was only doing my job. I'm no hero, which seems to be what all heroes say is a heads. I watched the video of that rescue again this week because it was all captured on on video and I've seen it before. I've even spoken of this before but when I watched it.

Interestingly, I found myself at the Inn with tears light welling up in my eyes to think of this young firefighter who go in and just risks his life to save someone who was most certainly otherwise going to die just that kind of jaw-dropping bravery in the face of such threatening conditions is just so noble is just so pure it so powerful it isn't there something inside of you that is just inspired by Doug forever sleep over those guys and there's something within me that just says I want to be like that it when you hear a hero story. Isn't there something within you that says I want boldness like that. Last week I mentioned that there is an interpretive principle of Scripture that many scholars point to of paying attention to the first time something is mentioned in the Bible and this week we are looking at the first instance recorded instance in the bar in the New Testament of corporate prayer for the newborn Church of Jesus Christ were to see the first thing that God thought was important for us to know that the early Christians prayed about specifically that's what you look they prayed a lot for this, but this is the first recorded prayer.

Here's the context Peter and John in the previous chapter that we had looked at in another sermon they were on their way to the temple and passed by a man who was lame and was begging, probably they passed by him many many times.

Maybe 100 times. But on this particular day Peter, the Scripture says, turned and looked at them. It is like he did a double take just looked at him totally different than he ever had before and he suddenly just spoke to the man under the power of the Holy Spirit and he said to the beggar he said silver gold have I none but such as I have I give unto you, and he said, rise up and take your mat and walk in the name of Jesus Christ and the Bible says that the man rose up and went walking and leaping and praising God. Well, all of the people were astonished because this man was like 40 years old and everybody knew this was this was not so. I was faking it. This was not some kind of of magic or trickery. This was a man.

Everybody knew had been lame and now he suddenly walking and leaping and praising God and people were astonished and people were listening to the teaching of Peter who was proclaiming the gospel in this opportune time. The religious leaders were upset, and especially the Sadducees because Peter was talking about the resurrection and the Sadducees were a religious sect that did not believe in resurrection. They did not believe the resurrection of the dead. That's why they were so sad. You see, I sorry I could not resist it and set it Sadducees. The chief phrase all the elders, they are talking to one about what are we going to do about this. They arrested Peter and John and kept them overnight and they talked about what to do and in the morning they brought them before their counsel and they said to them by what power by what power or by what name did you do this, they knew it was a real miracle. They weren't suggesting that the healing was a hoax or that the people were being duped.

They were just questioning whether was really from God and Peter.

The text says was filled with the Holy Spirit and explain to them that this miracle happen through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and he was bold enough to say the man that you crucified speaking to the religious leaders he just stood right there forthrightly spoke right to their face and said, though, you killed him.

Jesus is alive and he healed this man. And then Peter added to that in this name Jesus is the name by which anyone is going to be saved will be safer. There is no other name by which anyone is saying will the religious leaders are feeling trapped because this lame man is leaping and praising God. People are astonished and they don't really have any crime that they can accuse Peter and John and so they don't imprison them, but they tell them that they need to be quiet, and here's where we pick up Rita asked for in verse 18.

So they called them and they charge them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus I just said you can't do this anymore. The Peter and John answered them, whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God.

You must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard and when they had further threatened them the religious leaders threatened they let him go find a way to punish them because the people because the people all were praising God for what had happened.

So Peter and John rush away from there and join their friends. Other early disciples of Jesus and they told him what the chief priests and elders had set and this is the context what's happening in in chapter 4. And when we see this. The first recorded prayer of the New Testament church asked for verse 23 when they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and elders and said to them, and when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said sovereign Lord who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them who through the mouth of our father David, your servant said by the Holy Spirit.

Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot in vain. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed their they're harkening back to a Psalm of David that is speaking of this very moment. For truly the city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place, and now Lord look upon their threats and grant to your servant to continue to speak your word with all boldness while you stretch out your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. And when they prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Note it well. The very first recorded prayer in the New Testament church was a prayer for boldness in talent right will have today's series at Arlington ready for a new year and this is the year you start planning on dreaming for a great new year everyone right ministries has produced a beautiful, inspiring love calendar with you and each month not only depicts the Montana heart stirring image that also includes especially A blessing for the month, and after having Pastor Alan explains in his new book, the power to grant, which releases February 2 is available from Amazon for preorder now blessing based faith vision of the last enemy then told them to be fruitful and multiply. Blessing isn't the reward for your productivity needs the fuel for the 2021 blessing while calendar gives you space to write down all your important appointments and make plans for a wonderful new year. And most importantly, each time you see the beautiful image for them on your heart will be strengthened by the empowering this year.

Don't just organize your life for the 2021 calendar is our gift to you.

When you make a donation is not right ministries. Contact us today and start your year out right by the power of blessing. Call us at 877-544-4860 877-544-4861 come to our website pastor out and got a work today's teaching.

Now you once again is for so many of us when adversity comes the temptation is to pray the Lord would stop the adversity. The allure of our hearts is to simply pray for protection over the problem to go away and I want to be clear, we should do that.

I probably pray Psalm 91. Almost every day of my family, for protection over our lives. During these days a pandemic. I pray and claim the promises of God and his finished work of Jesus Christ and how his blood is been shed for us.

And when there's a mountain in front of you. Sometimes it is essential to speak to that mountain and ask God to grant you grace to to triumph in the midst of it, but know this well, that was not the instinct of these first Christians when they faced adversity and were told to be silence. Astonishingly, what they ask God for was boldness.

It is odd for cut eyes might be true statement. I don't exaggerate but I am 30 years of pastoral ministry, praying with people all the time.

I don't remember anybody ever asking me to please pray that God would give them more boldness in the face of persecution, but that was the prayer of the early church, the in-state might be to want a more comfortable life.

But what would you learn today is that what we need maybe more than anything, especially in these days is courage and boldness that comes from the Holy Spirit is us will talk to you about really three things that I what is boldness and why is it so important and how do we get it. Let's start with this. What boldness is and really maybe what it isn't boldness biblically is not folly how they was Jeff Foxworthy, you said you might be a redneck if the your last words are hey y'all watch this, they're all kind of pictures on the Internet of men who have not been supervised by women leave men alone on their construction projects. Are they in no tell it let Lucas of your them just just for for fun. I don't think that this is boldness. I think this is folly.

Write a A-frame ladder on a sloped roof or what in the world are these two men doing their both dropping down the same tree but what you guys jump at it now from below, while the other guys sewing up job, not Sue, not smart and I think when this guy's wife said you know stroll the baby. I don't think riding on the back of a moped is what that she had in mind that this one here. I removed it gives us even real, that there's a crane holding up a guy who puts out the riding mower and that's his way of trimming the hedges surely is battered, what is this cowboy doing right here how big of a cow is that in his car and what is it does the man does he not have a truck and pleasant folks.

This is not waterski and that this is not at at and an all-terrain vehicle driving on the land pull in some I own a piece of wood, and upon is not waterskiing. This is folly and and again. The last one.

This is not boldness it's foolishness. Some people they are stupid with ladders. They just don't use a ladder at all. I boldness is not folly and boldness is not self serving fleshly anger you. I think probably that might be the way that I would've responded with the Pharisees and the Sadducees are so you can't talk, you know what I get bold half the time is like to tell me what to do I do what I wanted to get out, mumbling to people or maybe maybe you feel bold outlook on the air in busy traffic with some I get you mad that your bold you will pull in front of you that that's not that's not the biblical, emotional, bold, and just because you got mad about something because you didn't get your way or you feel entitled to something and you get upset about it and it makes you feel momentarily like I got what I would do something that's not boldness either, and boldness is not using a position of superiority to manipulate others. That's what the religious leaders were doing.

They were we're the ones in power and so were to tell you boldly, you can't talk anymore. Peter and John say no. The biblical view of boldness is deeper and richer than all of that, here's my my my attempt at the definition of boldness, biblically speaking, love motivated Holy Spirit induced courage to speak and act as God leads its motivated by love. It is inspired induced of the Holy Spirit and it's about not what you want but about what God wants. How he want you to speak and act. It is a bravery that is a profound assurance of God's grace and is moved by a great love for people and forgot Alan Wright.

Today's good news message. The most powerful prayer nobody brace. It's from the teaching unlimited and we got pastor out and back here in the studio with a parting to be thought for the day. You will hear it early and ready for a new year and this is the year you start planning on dreaming friend breaking here if we want to help write ministries has produced a beautiful, inspiring love calendar with you when each month not only depicts the Montana heart starting image that also includes especially common blessing for my friend Pastor Alan explains in his new book, the power to blast which releases February 2 is available from Amazon for preorder now blessing likely based faith vision of the last then told them to be fruitful and multiply. Blessing isn't the real word for your productivity needs the fuel for the 2021 blessing while calendar gives you space to write down all your important appointments and make plans for a wonderful new year.

And most importantly, each time you see the full image for them on your heart will be strengthened by empowering Pastor Alan this year. Don't just organize your life for the 2021 blessing calendar is our gift to you. When you make a donation is not to write ministries. Contact us today and start your year out right by the power of blessing, six 877-544-4860 877-544-4861 come to our website pastor out and got a work that now that's relevant studio with our parting good news thought for the day and this is the most powerful prayer that nobody prays so is it your hope and desire pastor that we will start bring his bride.

They kill him be a very good idea to do his early church did and they prayed that God would give them boldness, no love praying with people and and and people have made every almost every kind of prayer requests over the years not totally sure anybody ever asked me to pray hey I got a difficult situation.

Pray that I have courage in both right. We normally pray the Lord will make the situation go away or get easier and then that's fine but in the early church. The Holy Spirit filled them with boldness and confidence in, and we need this day and we need the assurances of the Holy Spirit to be able to watch us as we speak up when you speak up so that you don't become afraid we don't become don't we don't want to give that so don't run away from courage and fight it in prayer and God will fill today's good news message is a listener supported production of Alan White ministries