A Formula for Growth?
So, after a season of extreme persecution, we read that the churches all throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria experienced peace. How wonderfully welcome this season must have been for all of the believers at this time. I have always heard that nothing grows the church like persecution (ie China, the Middle East...), and i can understand how persecution is used by God to purify His Bride and strengthen her resolve. But still, this scripture shows us that edification (spiritual growth) and multiplication (numerical growth) also happened while the churches were at peace. It makes me think about 1 Timothy 2:2, "So, first of all, pray for all who are in places of authority so that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives...". To the Apostle Paul, peace and quietness were states or environments to be prayed for. And, this is the cry of all of our hearts! All of us desire peace and quietness in our hearts, our homes, our communities, our nation and our world! And, these are the results of the Kingdom of Heaven...something that we all look forward to experiencing perfectly in Heaven. Yes, the church can (and has) grown, even multiplied, in places where it's been persecuted and needed to go underground. But, here we read that multiplication and growth also resulted in an environment of peace and quiet.
So, maybe it's just something to be observed and noted...spiritual and numerical growth in the church is not only to be had in times of persecution and unrest. These desired results can also be attained personally and corporately in times of peace and quiet.
And maybe this speaks to a deeper issue...maybe no matter the outward environment (persecution or peace), growth requires an inward reality, as well? V. 31 says that edification and multiplication happened as the churches experienced peace AND as they were, "walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit"! So, as much as God can use both times of persecution and times of peace outwardly, we ought to be seeking to walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit inwardly! These should be the desired, sought after conditions of the inward man. Pray for peace, yes! But, walk THIS way!
So, persecuted church...continue to pray for peace and quietness! Pray for more men, like the Apostle Paul, to experience Christ and be quieted. But know that no matter the outward condition around you, God will build His church, and what he is desiring is that you walk in the fear of Him and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
And, church in the West...we don't need persecution to grow! It may be what God HAS to use to get our attention, but it doesn't have to be the only way! We can grow personally and corporately in times of peace and rest if we would learn to walk in the fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit!
This is my challenge today...to live with God in full view. To watch my words, my eyes, my thoughts, my attitudes and my actions in light of His holiness and His love. And, that i would commune with the person of the Holy Spirit more and more intimately...receiving His love and His comfort as i seek to honor God with my life!
So, maybe it's just something to be observed and noted...spiritual and numerical growth in the church is not only to be had in times of persecution and unrest. These desired results can also be attained personally and corporately in times of peace and quiet.
And maybe this speaks to a deeper issue...maybe no matter the outward environment (persecution or peace), growth requires an inward reality, as well? V. 31 says that edification and multiplication happened as the churches experienced peace AND as they were, "walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit"! So, as much as God can use both times of persecution and times of peace outwardly, we ought to be seeking to walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit inwardly! These should be the desired, sought after conditions of the inward man. Pray for peace, yes! But, walk THIS way!
So, persecuted church...continue to pray for peace and quietness! Pray for more men, like the Apostle Paul, to experience Christ and be quieted. But know that no matter the outward condition around you, God will build His church, and what he is desiring is that you walk in the fear of Him and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
And, church in the West...we don't need persecution to grow! It may be what God HAS to use to get our attention, but it doesn't have to be the only way! We can grow personally and corporately in times of peace and rest if we would learn to walk in the fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit!
This is my challenge today...to live with God in full view. To watch my words, my eyes, my thoughts, my attitudes and my actions in light of His holiness and His love. And, that i would commune with the person of the Holy Spirit more and more intimately...receiving His love and His comfort as i seek to honor God with my life!
