6 Subversive Acts: Revolutionary Prayer
Week #4
Opening Reflections.
Where have you seen God at work in your life this week?
Share any brief examples and encouragements.
Was there anything from Sunday’s message (from Alan Scott) which resonated with you or that you felt resistance to? Anything else you particularly noticed?
Note: Alan’s message, whilst he taught using Scriptures from Acts as a framework, was unusual in that it was more in the form of a word of prophecy for Emmaus Rd. Church. Key prophetic points (some of which were highlighted on the screen on Sunday) include:
· The Lord is going to visit us in power in our homes. (We need to pray, prepare, posture, and be ready to pastor)
· Houses of Prayer are going to spring up (Is this something that speaks directly to you?)
· Compassion and prayer have always been important to us, but there is a new season coming when they will increase (How can we continue to steward our heart for compassion and let our prayers reflect a growing sense of authority?)
· That Emmaus Rd would be a centre of wealth creation (Pray for entrepreneurs, job creation, giving dignity to people)
· The acceleration of compassion is coming, an uprising of generous compassion. Holistic, enterprising, and innovative (Pray for compassion and creative ideas)
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, ‘Cornelius!’
Cornelius stared at him in fear. ‘What is it, Lord?’ he asked. The angel answered, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.’ When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Acts 10:1-8
Alan Scott says, ‘The move of God doesn’t always look like a move of God… quite often it’s just one person being changed at a time.’ Here a new chapter in the life of the early church begins, and it starts with just one person, a God-fearing Roman Centurion, a man of generous compassion, and a man of prayer. He is about to make a connection with Peter, the Apostle who in Acts 2 had been the leader and spokesman for the new Spirit-filled Jesus Community. Now Peter himself is about to be overtaken by events. As he is praying, he has a vision (Acts 10:9-23).
- There is a lot going on here. As well as generosity, compassion, prayer, and connection, we encounter angels, visions, divine encounters, and action (including quite a bit of travel). Is there anything else you notice? What does Acts 10 have to show us at Emmaus Rd right now? What do you particularly notice?
- Everything about this new move, as the gospel begins to break out of the Jewish world to embrace a much wider vision for the nations, begins in prayer; it is a flawed prayer, a broken Hallelujah, but God responds. What does this tell us about our efforts in prayer?
Closing Reflections.
Is there anything you will take away from this study and discussion?What has stood out that you can take into your week ahead?
Pray together (in pairs or small groups) for each other, in response to your answers.
