Resurrection Prayer

 

In Acts 4 we see the account of Peter and John being arrested after preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people who came to them after the miraculous healing of the lame man who used to beg at the temple gate. They were brought to the high priest, the same one who had Jesus put to death. Peter and John spoke to them with such confidence that it was obvious that they had been with Jesus.

¹³ Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. Acts 4:13

The high priest, and those with him, were left speechless, especially since the lame man, who had been lame since birth, was standing there with them, obviously healed.

They couldn’t deny the miracle, but they forbid them from speaking or teaching at all in the name of Jesus. Peter and John assured them that they couldn’t stop speaking about what they had seen and heard, and after they were threatened some more, they were released.

They went to their people and prayed. They glorified God, acknowledged that Jesus had been killed in that same city, according to what God had predestined to occur, and then they prayed for more boldness.

 ²⁹ And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, ³⁰ while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:29-31.

The words “confidence” and “boldness” in these passages of Scripture are from the Greek word parrésia. You can read more about that in my two blogs God’s Freedom of Speech Definition and The Parrésia Anointing, but it is that darkness-piercing, deception-shattering type of anointing we want to carry with us to set the captives free wherever we go.

With that in mind, here is a prayer based off the prayer of those early disciples, asking for the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus to accompany us to do His will this resurrection season.

 

Resurrection Season Prayer

This coming season, from now through Resurrection Day, March 31^st, I ask Lord God, that You draw us into Your presence, and while we’re there, give us the confidence and boldness that comes from being with Jesus. This season, and beyond, give us the determination to speak, to testify in the Name of Jesus. (Acts 4:13, 20).

I bind the power of all intimidation and threats. They shall not prevail over us. We pray together of one accord, with a united and unwavering heart, to You, O Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea and all that is in them. You are the Creator of all things, and we submit ourselves to You and Your will. (2 Timothy 1:7, Acts 4:24, Psalm 86:11, Revelation 4:11, Matthew 6:10).

Lord Jesus, You laid aside Your glory to come to earth as one of us. And You suffered the end result of the threats of those who mocked You, ridiculed You, hated You, didn’t believe in You, shamed You, and then tortured and killed You. You suffered for us, to bear our sin on the cross, to bring us into Your Kingdom, Your Kingdom of Light. To be Your ambassadors, Your representatives, Your witnesses here and now, to give record and testimony of all You have done for us. And God has highly exalted You and given You a name which is above every other name. (Acts 4:25-28, Colossians 1:13, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Acts 1:8).

So now, Lord, I ask that You grant us, Your bond-servants, to speak Your Word with all confidence and boldness, with parrésia, with Your anointing. The anointing on Your Word, and from Your Spirit, that removes all obstacles, that pierces the atmosphere with Your Light and Truth. (Acts 4:29).

Let the anointing be released by our presence (Your presence in us) and our words (Your Words) to pierce the darkness and shatter deception and confusion. Let it remove blinders from minds so the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ shines into the hearts of the people and they believe. Let it bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, freeing the people’s minds, hearts, and wills from the captivity of the enemy who has them bound in the kingdom of darkness to do his will. Let this be done in us as well as those we encounter this season. (2 Corinthians 4:4-6, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, 2 Timothy 2:25-26).

Free them Lord, all those we have contact with, and all those we pray for this season, from their captivity so they can choose You Lord Jesus. Let us speak Your Word boldly, confidently, as led by Your Spirit, and let us carry Your presence to release Your power to save and to heal, while You, God, extend Your hand to heal and signs and wonders take place in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:30).

Fill us fresh with Your Holy Spirit, pour out Your Spirit upon us. Pour out Your Spirit from us, through us, as rivers of living water flow out of our bellies. Let the earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Flood this place and every place we are during this resurrection season, with the resurrection power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (Acts 4:31, John 7:38-39, Habakkuk 2:14).