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Intention

To pray with pleading prayer for fresh empowering from the Holy Spirit for bold gospel sharing.

Scripture

“When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.”

– Acts 4:31

Reflection

This Easter to Pentecost season, believers across the globe are uniting in extraordinary prayer with a shared longing: a fresh empowering of the Holy Spirit to boldly share the gospel of Jesus Christ. From cities to villages, from churches to homes, millions of voices are rising together with one desire — that God would move again in power as he did in the early church.

We are reminded of a simple but profound principle: God releases his power in response to the prayers of his people.

More prayer, more power.
Little prayer, little power.
No prayer, no power.

In recent years, we have witnessed the reality of this truth. As global days of prayer have multiplied, so too has the response to the gospel — even in some of the darkest and most resistant places on earth. There is a growing sense that we are living in a season of unprecedented harvest, a time when God is drawing all peoples to himself.

At the heart of this calling is a deeper understanding of why we pray. The only enduring motive for prayer is that God is worthy to be sought. He is worthy — and we are needy! Jesus declared that we can do nothing apart from him (John 15:5). This calls us to humble dependence on him, especially as we approach this Pentecost season. We come asking for a fresh empowering of his Spirit!

God is calling his people not only to pray, but also to go — to step out as bold witnesses in the everyday moments of life. The mission is clear: every believer a witness. Each of us has been placed in relationships, workplaces, and communities where the light of Christ can shine.

In Acts 4, we see a powerful model of worship-based, Scripture-fed, Spirit-led prayer. Facing opposition and pressure, the early believers did not retreat — they prayed. Their prayer was bold, focused, and anchored in God’s purposes.

First, they cried out in worship-based prayer: “O Sovereign Lord, who made the heavens and the earth…” (Acts 4:24). They followed the pattern that Jesus taught us: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” All prayer begins with an invitation to adoration.

Second, they cried out in Scripture-fed prayer: “Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers assemble together, against the Lord and against his Anointed” (Acts 4:25–26).

They were praying through Psalm 2, in which God invites his Anointed Son to ask for the nations as his inheritance. In essence, their cry was: “Lord, your name is at stake — vindicate your Anointed One — break in with power!”

Third, they cried out in Spirit-led prayer: “‘And now, Lord, grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ And when they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:29–31)

In Acts 2, they had been filled with the Spirit at Pentecost — and now in Acts 4, many of these same believers were filled with the Spirit again!

This was not casual or routine prayer. The Greek word used for ‘prayed’ in this passage is deomai — a word that, in this context, speaks of intense, pleading prayer, marked by longing, tears, and a gripping hold on the promises of God.

And what was the result of this type of desperate praying?

The place where they were gathered was shaken through the power of prayer. The believers were shaken by the power of the Spirit. And the city was shaken through the power of the gospel.

Father, we ask you to do it again in our day! Send the Spirit for Jesus’ sake!

Fill us. Empower us. Send us.

Video

Prayer

LORD God,

May we be those who desire to know nothing but Christ and him crucified. Give us a greater love for those you love, and a greater hatred for the things you hate.

Open our eyes to see the answers to our prayers in the people around us.

May our love for you and desire to share in your blessings outweigh every fear, distraction or false idol in our hearts. Multiply the joy of our salvation as we share this good news with all we meet.

Sustain us with your presence each day. For it’s not by might, nor by power, but only by your Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).

In Jesus’ mighty name we pray,

Amen.

Author Bio

Dr Jason Hubbard is the Executive Coordinator of International Prayer Connect. Husband to Kristie, a father of three and a grandfather of four, Jason’s desire is to be an extravagant worshipper of Jesus and a godly family man. He is the author of Moravian Miracle: The 100 Year Prayer Meeting That Changed the World.

Prayer Points for Five4Five 2026

1. Five people to trust in Christ and to share the gospel with those five in May. Matthew 28:19–20

2. Repentance, revival and reformation in Australia and for millions to believe in Jesus Christ. Luke 24:47

3. A Church that grows in extravagant love for God and people. 2 Corinthians 5:14–15

We invite you to support this campaign to multiply prayer in Australia for revival and see millions come to faith in Christ. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for family, faith, freedom, life, and the good news of God’s love through Jesus Christ.

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DATES: Every night from Sunday, 12 April to Pentecost Sunday, 24 May

TIME: 8 pm (AEST), 7:30 pm (ACST), 6 pm (WA)

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