Vision for Prayer

Sermon scripture: Proverbs 29:18, Act 4:31
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

Acts 4:31
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.

God gives us vision:
The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God. Then the vision I had seen went up from me.
Ezekiel 11:24

Seek God:
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Isaiah 55:6

Study God’s Word:
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Worship God:

Prayer to God:
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3 

Fasting to find God:
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”Joel 2:12

Wait on God:
Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
2 Chronicles 20:12

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14

The Power of Pentecost

The Power of Pentecost          Acts 2:1-21

Feast of Pentecost— Providence of God:

There was the spirit of being in one accord (v.1):
Acts 1:4-8: On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

There was the Spirit’s infilling (v.2-4):
Ephesians 5:18: Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesian 1:19-20: and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength which He produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in heavenly places.

There was witnessing—devout people heard the Word (v.5-11):
Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

John Wesley: “I do not fear that the people called Methodist shall ever cease to exist either in Europe or America, I only fear that they shall exist as a dead sect having the form of religion, but not the power thereof, and that undoubtedly will be the case, unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.”