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

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 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 8-13.
2. How did the apostles respond to the command given to them in Acts 4.18? Read verses 19-
20.
3. What does it mean to praise God through your tears? Are we supposed to fake it? Keep up a
relentless stream of happy talk?
4. 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
5. Read aloud the prayer in Acts 4:24-30. Then write or speak your own prayer modeled on
that one. You can divide into groups of three or four for this prayer (Please, the facilitators
should should endeavor to carry out this exercise). 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.

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.