Pray Acts 13:42, 44

In this week's staff meeting, we read from Acts 13, and I made much of asking the staff to pray according to vv. 42 and 44. I'd like to ask the same of you.

Let me explain. In verse 42 we are told that after Paul preached in the synagogue in Antioch (in Pisidia) and "the people begged that these things [that Paul had just been speaking about] might be told them the next Sabbath" (v. 42, ESV). In other words, they couldn't get enough of Paul's preaching; they actually begged to hear more! Then we are told in v. 44 that on the next Sabbath, "almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord" (ESV)! Apparently that is far more people than had gathered the first Sabbath and had heard Paul the first time. We know this because we are told that the religious leaders became envious when they saw the crowds on the second week and "began to contradict what was spoken by Paul" (v. 45, ESV).

The point I want us each to see and to pray for is not just that the people were gripped by an overwhelming desire to hear God's Word preached, though that is definitely true and clearly what I would love to see happen here on the Coast. The point that I want us to see and to be praying for is that those who heard Paul the first week apparently went right out and told people about Paul and what he had said. Apparently, they invited people to church the next Sabbath, saying things like this: "You have got to come and hear the Word of God!" and "You will not want to miss this!"

Please pray:
1. that I and my fellow ministers around the community would preach the Word faithfully, clearly, and yet provocatively.
2. that it will penetrate through to the hearts and minds of the people who hear and will trigger something within them.
3. that those who hear would be like the first-week-listeners in Acts 13:42 and tell others about what they have seen and heard.
4. that "almost the whole city" will gather to hear the Word of God preached.

Soli Deo gloria!