The Triumphant ChurchThese believers talked to God, not to the devil, even
though the devil was behind the problem. And the main
thing they asked God to do about their problem was to
grant them boldness to preach the Word with signs and
wonders following. They knew it was the Word that
would change people and situations (John 8:32).
This prayer of the Early Church shows us the
biblical way to pray as a church when we face the
opposition of the powers of darkness. We're to pray to
God. And we're to pray for boldness to proclaim the
Word so the Word can set people free from Satan. And
furthermore, notice they did not even ask God to do
anything about the devil.
Then when the Early Church was scattered abroad
because the persecution greatly increased, believers
went everywhere preaching the Word—not directly
fighting devils: "Therefore they that were scattered
abroad went every where PREACHING THE WORD"
(Acts 8:4). If any strongholds had to be pulled down, the
Church trusted God and His Word to do that.
When Peter was in prison, the saints who were
praying for him didn't try to fight against the religious
devils over Jerusalem. They made their earnest
entreaty to God in Peter's behalf.
ACTS 12:5
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer
was made without ceasing of the church UNTO
GOD for him.
What about when the prophets and teachers
gathered together in Antioch? Did they go into spiritual
warfare and spend their time in spiritual combat before
they sent out Paul and Barnabas for the work of the
ministry?