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A CHURCH GROWING

Acts 9:31 (King James Version)
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

I.  Feeding On The Word Of God.

  • Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria,

A.  God Himself stopped the persecution. He did so by doing two things.

1.  God converted the arch-persecutor himself, Saul of Tarsus

2.  God overruled the evil of men, worked it out for good

  • “…and were edified.”
  • EDIFIED-to be a house-builder, i.e. construct or (figurative) confirm :- (be in) build (-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden
  • We are to "edify"

· of sharing good things.

· of building up and strengthening people.

· of ministering grace (favor, blessings) and helping one another as we plow through life.

  • Romans 14:19 (King James Version)
    Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
  • Romans 15:2 (King James Version)
    Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
  • Ephesians 4:29 (King James Version)
    Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

II.  Following In The Fear Of The Lord.

  • “walking in the fear.”

A.  Very simply, this means to live in "the fear of the Lord";

1.  to live before Him in:

a.  trust, reverence, awe, worship, and obedience.

B.  It means to live a life that:

1.  witnesses to the glory of His love and grace, holiness and righteousness

  • Colossians 2:6 (King James Version)
    As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
  • 1 John 2:6 (King James Version)
    He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
  • 1 Peter 2:21 (King James Version)
    For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

III.  Filled With The Spirit.

  • “And the comfort of the Holy Ghost.”
  • It means comforter, advisor, helper, encourager, exhorter.
  • The picture is that of One who is called to stand by the believer's side (just as Jesus did).
  • That is the reason Jesus made the great promise: "[God] shall give you another Comforter."
  • John 14:26 (King James Version)
    But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
  • The Holy Spirit was flooding their hearts with a great sense...

o  of the Lord's presence: comforting, advising, helping, counseling, and exhorting them.

  • Church: the church was growing and multiplying by leaps and bounds.
  • But why the church was growing at such a rapid pace. The believers...

o  were at rest and peace.

o  were edifying and building each other up.

o  were walking in the fear of the Lord.

o  were walking under the control of the Spirit.

  • These are the essentials for church growth, for reaching people with the gospel of the Lord Jesus.