When the early saints prayed for boldness, God shook the place and filled them with His Holy Spirit.

1. Peter and John were at the Temple, preaching in Jesus' Name . They were arrested, imprisoned overnight, and brought before the religious rulers next morning. The rulers threatened them and commanded them to preach no more in Jesus' Name . www.rossvillechurch.com 781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741 August 10, 2011

2. Acts 4:23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, Which hast made Heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Hearing of the persecution , the church recognized and accepted the sovereignty of God . If they were being persecuted , it was in the Plan of God ; they were ok with that.

3. 25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord , and against His Christ . 27 For of a Truth against thy holy child Jesus, Whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

4. 28 For to do whatsoever Thy Hand and Thy Counsel determined before to be done. Everything that happens is according to the foreknowledge and predestination of God. When we suffer persecution, we should thank God for the privilege.

5. 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy Word , 30 By stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the Name of Thy Holy Child Jesus. The early church did not pray to be delivered from persecution. They prayed to be bold in the face of persecution.

6. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness . When we pray in God's Will , desiring His Will, God will come on the scene. He will shake things up.

7. This is some time after Pentecost , when they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost when he preached and five thousand men were saved.

8. Now the church prayed for boldness to spread the Gospel , and again, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Everyone who is born of the Spirit of God into the Family of God , is, in that moment, indwelt by God. God comes into us in the Person of His Holy Spirit.

9. To be filled with the Holy Ghost means that a person is completely under His influence, And influenced only by God's Spirit. This may and should happen many times in the life of a Christian. We will always be filled with God's Holy Spirit, when we are whole-heartedly submitting to Him. When God's Will is all that matters to us.

10. Then we will be the people God wants us to be.

11. Galatians 5 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Romans 8 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit is to follow the leading of God's Spirit -- step by step -- every step of the way.

12. To walk in the Spirit is more than simply to turn away from the sins of the flesh . We will also love and seek the things of God. We will be submissive unto the Holy Ghost: 1 That we may have His Fruit produced in us. 2 That we may use His Gifts to do God's Will. 3 That we may know the Mind of God , and do all things God's Way and not our own .