Acts 2:41-45
Dr. Helen Roseveare was a medical missionary from England who served for nearly 20 years in the former Belgian Congo (1953 to 1973). In 1964 she was taken prisoner for five months by rebel forces that cruelly abused her for a time. After her release, she went back to England, but later returned to the Congo in 1966. During those later years of her ministry, she assisted in the rebuilding of the nation by helping to establish a new medical school and hospital (the previous hospitals she built were destroyed) where she served until 1973.
Dr. Roseveare writes in her book, Living Faith, about the power of a little girl's prayer that is so moving that I wanted to share it with you.
She writes, “One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do she died, leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator) and no special feeding facilities.
“Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical climates. ‘And it is our last hot water bottle!’ she exclaimed.
“As in the West it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
"’All right,’ I said, ‘Put the baby as near the fire as you safely can; sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.’”
She continues, “The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
“During the prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. ‘Please, God,’ she prayed, ‘send us a water bottle. It’ll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby’ll be dead, so please send it this afternoon.’
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by way of corollary, ‘And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she’ll know You really love her?’
“As often with children’s prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, ‘Amen’? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything. The Bible says so. But there are limits, aren’t there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home; anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
“Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses’ training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.
“From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys; eyes sparkled as I pulled them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas --- that would make a nice batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the ..... could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out --- yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle! I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
“Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, ‘If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!’ Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted.
“Looking up at me, she asked: ‘Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give this dolly to that little girl, so she’ll know that Jesus really loves her?’
“That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God’s prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child --- five months before --- in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year old to bring it ‘that afternoon.’" (Living Faith, CBD Ebook)
Can God still answer prayer as dramatically as the prayer of that little ten-year-old girl? Absolutely, if we only prayed!
The problem in American Christianity is that the concept of prayer clashes with our independence and individualism. Prayer is too often the last resort rather than the first response. We think we can handle life on our own without anyone’s help...until we hit a real crisis. Consequently, too many of us never cry out to God until we have no other options left.
The truth is, If we’re going to change our world, we have to develop a radical dependence on God, characterized by a committed communion with Him in prayer. Prayerlessness is really the ultimate declaration of our independent and individualistic attitudes... “I can do this on my own.”
I was watching my grandson learn how to jump rope the other day. He had the right motion down, but the rope was too long for his little arms. Consequently, he couldn’t pull all of the excess rope beneath his feet before his feet hit the ground again. Every time he tried to jump the rope he kept getting tangled up in the excess until he became totally frustrated. When his mother suggested that he allow her to shorten the rope, he responded, “I can do it.” For several minutes he fumbled with the rope, trying to figure a way to shorten its length until finally, with a tone of total abandon, he said, “Here mommy...you do it.”
It’s that type of independent spirit that cripples our Christian lives so that we have little or no eternal impact on our families and communities.
Stop and think of what the early New testament church did not have and what they did have. They did not have their own copy of the Old Testament scriptures. Neither were the New Testament documents yet complete. What they had was the testimony of the death and resurrection of Christ as the heart of their theology and the privilege of communing with God in prayer. And yet, these early Christians turned the world upside down (cf. Acts 17:6).
What made this possible was that they “continued steadfastly” (Acts 2:42) in prayer. This phrase translates one Greek word that normally means “to occupy oneself diligently with something,” “to pay persistent attention to,” “to hold fast to something,” or “continually to be in” (it is used in the last sense in 2:46). Luke uses the same verb to describe the devotion of the 120 to prayer (1:14) and the resolve of the apostles to occupy themselves with prayer and the ministry of the word (6:4). The periphrastic construction in 2:42...stresses the ongoing nature of this activity. One scholar translates it as “constant in their attention.”
Maybe if the church today (individual Christians are the church) were less concerned with pragmatism, programming, publicity, and posturing and spent more time praying...we’d experience the kind of spiritual power the early church experienced.
Yesterday my son called me to tell me he was going on a “silent retreat” to Colorado with two other pastors and seven additional men from his church. He explained that during the retreat the only time the men were allowed to speak is in the evening when they share what God has been showing them during their day-long times of prayer and scripture reading. It’s a five day experience where these men will attempt to shut out all the noise of the world around them to hear the voice of God.
While the early church didn’t necessarily have days of silence for communing with the Lord, they were committed to hearing God’s voice and knowing His will.
What you find when you read the book of Acts and the Epistles is that they are filled with examples and encouragement about communing with God in prayer. But, there has to be intentionality to our praying, if we are going to find enough silence to hear His voice. We have to get moments away from the rush of our busy lives to get alone with God.
I think it’s interesting that churches in South Korea (where revival is happening) are filled with Christians praying together on weekday mornings or all night before Sunday worship. Just try calling people together in American churches for an extended time of prayer and see how many show up. We WANT God...but only when WE want God!
Let’s stop looking at prayer as our means of reciting a “grocery list” of things we want Him to do for us. Obviously, we are encouraged to bring our requests/needs to Him, but prayer should be first and foremost about connecting with God. It’s about feeling His presence, being assured of His love, and knowing His heart. It’s not just about getting something from God. It’s about getting to know God! It’s not intended to be a one-way conversation where we do all the talking and He does all the listening. It’s about opening up our hearts to Him so that He can speak to us.
The kind of prayer that’s found in the early church really begins in the heart of the Father. They sought out what was being done in heaven and prayed for that on earth (i.e., The Lord’s Prayer). In other words, they got in agreement with Him. If that were more often people’s attitude in prayer today, then we’d have fewer of them disillusioned by their presumptions and false expectations in prayer. If we ask “according to His will” (1 John 5:14-15), we WILL have what we ask.
Let me say it again, if we’re going to change our world, we have to develop a radical dependence on God, characterized by a committed communion with Him in prayer. Just look at the priority the early church placed on prayer (a radical dependence on Him):
- Acts 1:14 – After Jesus’ ascension, the apostles’ first activity was gathering to pray until Pentecost.
- Acts 2:42 – Prayer continued to be one of the primary activities at church gatherings after Pentecost.
- Acts 3:1 – The Jewish believers continued to go to the temple to pray together. (cf. Acts 22:17)
- Acts 4:23-31 – The church gathers to pray in response to persecution.
- Acts 6:4 – The apostles found themselves distracted by feeding the poor; delegated responsibility and committed to return to praying together as one of their primary responsibilities.
- Acts 9:9-11 – While Paul was waiting for further direction from the Lord, he was praying.
- Acts 9:40 – Peter prayed and God miraculously raised up Dorcas/Tabitha from the dead.
- Acts 10:9 – Peter was praying when God showed him his desire for the Gentiles.
- Acts 12:5, 12 – The church united in a home to offer collective “constant prayer” for Peter, even through the night.
- Acts 13:1-3 – The church at Antioch gathered to worship, pray and fast in sending out missionaries.
- Acts 14:23 – Leaders were not appointed without prayer and fasting. (cf. Acts 1:24)
- Acts 16:13, 16 – There was a common gathering place for prayer at a river near Philippi.
- Acts 16:25-34 – Paul and Silas pray in agreement even into the night after being severely beaten.
- Acts 20:36, 21:5 – Paul gathers with the church leaders from Ephesus/Tyre to pray.
- Acts 22:17 – Paul was praying in the Temple when God gave him specific directions for his life.
- Acts 27:35 – Paul gave thanks on the food before 276 people on the ship with him.
In his book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Jim Cymbala says there are more than thirty references to prayer in the book of Acts alone. (Jim Cymbala, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire: What Happens When God's Spirit Invades the Heart of His People [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997], 71-72.)
But, prayer doesn’t stop in the book of Acts. It’s throughout the New Testament...and the entire Bible.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer... (Romans 12:9-12)
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving... (Colossians 4:2)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Here are some ideas I’ve learned from others to help spark our prayer lives.
- Establish some prayer “triggers.” Associate prayer with specific events and then pray when those events occur.
- Develop a “Focus on the Family” prayer strategy. Each week, focus on a different family in your Lifegroup. Find out what prayer needs they have, and pray for them.
- Follow the ACTS paradigm. Build a prayer list based on Adoration (praising God for who He is), Confession (admitting sin), Thanksgiving (expressing gratitude) and Supplication (praying for others). The intentionality of this strategy will help you stay focused during prayer.
- Do “drive by” praying. Use your time in the car to pray. Watch for church buildings, and pray for the pastors of those congregations. Intercede for children and teachers as you drive past a school. If you pass a “For Sale” sign in your neighborhood, pray for that family. Pray for your coworkers as you park each morning.
- Set some “prayer power points.” This is a set time each day when you stop to pray. Set reminders on your electronic devices and pray when they alert you.
- Pray as you read the news. Intercede for countries in war. Pray for families affected by crime or natural disasters. Ask God to guide government leaders. Pray for missionaries in each country in the news.
- Send an email prayer to someone each day/week. Take ten minutes, pray for someone else, and send a written prayer to that person.
Dr. Helen Roseveare writes poignantly about another answered prayer in her book, Living Faith. “Generally in (the) Congo we did not know who was praying for us nor where. We just experienced sudden peace of heart in the midst of fear, deliverance in the midst of danger, healing in the midst of sickness, and we knew that God was answering someone’s prayer. On a few occasions we learned more details, perhaps to encourage our faith in prayer and to remind us that this is the way that God chooses to act.
“The night of October 28-29, in the Congo uprising of 1964...At the height of the awful horror of that night...I was taken, beaten, and brutally humiliated by the guerrilla soldiers, I was briefly tempted to cry out, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ Weeks later we were rescued. Months later, after I had spoken at a meeting near Manchester in northwest England, a lady came up to me.
“‘I don’t want to distress you, doctor,’ she started hesitantly, ‘but do you remember the night of October 28-29?’ I certainly did. ‘Were you in special need that night?’ Most undoubtedly I was.
“She continued, ‘I went to bed early that night with a headache. I woke about eleven thirty’ --one thirty where I was, as the rebels set about to beat me up--‘and your name was in my mind.’ She did not know me. So far as I know we had never met before, but I was a name on her prayer list. ‘I got out of bed and down on my knees to pray for you, I went to get back in bed but had no peace, so I woke my husband, and we both got on our knees and prayed for you. Again we went to get into bed but...we had no peace. We stayed on our knees praying for you till one thirty’ --three thirty where I was. ‘We felt the burden lift, and were enabled to return to sleep.’
Dr. Roseveare continues, “God had met with me in the early hours of that morning. There had been no special vision or blinding light, just a sudden overwhelming consciousness of His presence and power, a great certainty of belonging to Him and of His concern for me and of His ability to undertake for me, no matter what the circumstances. God stirred in me a remembrance of how His Son went to the cross for me with no resistance, and a strange calm pervaded my heart. I began to sense that I was being privileged to share in some little way in the edge of the fellowship of His sufferings. I am not saying that if those two had not prayed for me, God would not have met with me, but I am saying that that is how He chooses to act.”
