YOUTH FELLOWSHIP

CHAPEL OF VICTORY (HAUSA SECTION) B.U.K

Theme: …I am doing a new thing… (Isaih 43:19 NIV)

BIBLE STUDY UNIT

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TOPIC: PERSECUTION, PRAYER AND POWER IN THE EARLY CHURCH

TEXT: ACTS 4.1-33

PROLOGUE

The early church had none of the “advantages” that some ministries boast of and depend on today. They
did not have big budgets provided by wealthy donors. Their pastors lacked credentials from the accepted
schools, nor did they have the endorsement of the influential political leaders of that day. Most of their
ministers had jail records and would probably have a hard time today joining our churches, let alone
leading them. What really was the secret of their success? Today’s study provides the answer: the
Christians of the early church knew how to pray so that God’s hand could work in mighty power. Today’s
study will be more of putting into practice, the habit of prayer.

When asked to explain the secret of his remarkable ministry, the noted British preacher Charles Haddon
Spurgeon replied, “My people pray for me.” St. Augustine said, “Pray as though everything depended on
God, and work as though everything depended on you.” Prayer is not an escape from responsibility; it is
our response to God’s ability. True prayer energizes us for service and battle.

BIBLE STUDY QUESTIONS

1. How did the apostles respond to the question raised in Acts 4.7? Read verses 8-12.
2. How did the apostles respond to the command given to them in Acts 4.18? Read verses 19-20.
3. How was prayer a key to the success of the early Christians? Read Acts 1.14; 1.24; 2.42; 3.1; 4.31;
6.4; 12.5; 13.3 & 16.25.
4. What does it mean to praise God through your tears? Are we supposed to fake it? Keep up a
relentless stream of happy talk?
5. Read aloud the prayer in Acts 4:24-30. Then write or speak your own prayer modeled on that one.
Pray for your partner(s) for boldness and whatever else they need. Pray for the nonbelievers in
your lives, even those who are hostile to the gospel.
6. On your opinion, why do you think their prayer was effective? Read Acts 4.31.

EPILOGUE

In conclusion, prayer allows us to come boldly into the Throne Room of the Father to receive illumination
and advanced knowledge to pray, as we ought to. Prayer is our ability to stand in the gap and intercede
for nations, cities, communities, churches, leaders, families, and ordinary people so that the will of God
can be enforced over and above the plans of the enemy.

Culled from: Greg Laurie, Upside Down Living Bible Study (U.S.A.: NavPress, 2012).
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