Joint operation, united prayer, collective success (Acts 4:23-32)

Joint operation, united prayer,

collective success

 

 

 

 

[Acts 4:23-32]

 

 

 

As I meditate on Acts 4:23-32, I've gained insight into the following:

 

First, Satan employs a "joint operation" in attacking us.

 

Look at Acts 4:27 - "Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed."  Just as Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired against Jesus, the enemies of Jesus, here the members of the Sanhedrin who opposed the apostles Peter and John in Acts 4, also conspired together.  Likewise, as disciples of Jesus, we experience joint attacks from Satan and his forces.

 

At times, we encounter difficult and challenging situations in life.  It may feel as if everything is falling apart, much like Job's experience, where he lost all his possessions, his children, and even his health.  Though we may not face such extreme trials all at once, it often seems that Satan brings severe trials and difficulties into our lives simultaneously.

 

                Satan's joint operation against us signifies the collaboration of malevolent spiritual forces in the world, united in their effort to sway the hearts of us Christians.  This is especially evident in a time where a famine of hearing the Word of God, akin to what Amos prophesied, has become a reality.  Due to this lack of knowledge about God, we find ourselves ill-prepared to resist the joint operation of Satan.  Our understanding of Scripture, which is the sharp sword of the Spirit, often remains dull.  Thus, we become vulnerable and easily entangled in various sins of speech, action, and thought.

 

Second, the right response of us Christians to Satan's joint operation is "united prayer."

Look at Acts 4:24 - "When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God."  The prayer partners of Peter and John heard their testimony, and together, in one accord, they prayed to God.  Their prayer began not with complaints, murmurs, or requests for help, but with a confession acknowledging the sovereignty of the Creator God.  In other words, their prayer began by acknowledging God as the ultimate Sovereign.

 

In Psalms 18:1-2, we see David initiating his prayer by confessing God's sovereignty.  This is how we should begin our prayers.  To do so, we need to ask ourselves, "Who is God?" and declare God's sovereignty, as spoken of in the Bible, with our lips and hearts.  In Acts 4, we witness that the prayer partners of Peter and John started their united prayer in this manner.  It's truly a marvelous work of the Holy Spirit.  When saints in the church pray together in unity with their pastor, they should begin their prayer by confessing God's sovereignty.

 

Third and last, when we respond to Satan's joint operation with united prayer, we experience the blessing of "collective success."

 

Look at Acts 4:28 - "They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen."  In other words, the suffering and persecution experienced by Jesus, as well as His disciples like Peter and John, were all part of God's preordained plan.

 

Just as Jesus and His disciples, including us as His followers, have hardships and trials, the joint operation of Satan is also within God's sovereign plan.  Ultimately, our God, who works all things together for good (Rom. 8:28), is the One who orchestrates everything for His purpose.  In the end, God allows us to experience success and blessing by working everything together.

 

Saints who have tasted this blessing do not fear Satan's joint operation.  Instead, they view it as an opportunity for united prayer.  Through experiencing collective success in such situations, they come to know and experience God's sovereignty more deeply in their lives.  They grow as a people who acknowledge God's sovereignty, revere Him, and walk in righteousness.

 

With a heart filled with gratitude for my God who works all things together for good, I pray that this blessing may also be present in the lives of me and many others.

 

 

 

In the grace of my God who orchestrates all things for good,

 

 

James Kim

(Recognizing the need for united prayer)