Acts 9:30-43
What does a growing church look like, or how can we the
American church see past numbers and programs to understand the simplicity of
being lead by the Spirit? God had much
to teach Saul, so when the Hellenist’s plan to kill him was revealed; Paul was
brought by the brothers to Caesarea and they sent him off to Tarsus. After this man of God was sent to safety we
see the recipe for a growing church; “So the church
throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and
in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” (Acts 9:31)
What happens when the people become disciples of Jesus and their
identity is not in some denomination?
Could it be that once more we see men and women, boys and girls, telling
others in the work place and in neighborhoods and at school about Jesus with
the boldness and power of these people in the early church? And could it be that the lack of unity and
trust leads the members of the local church to a form of Godliness that has no
power? Now look at this account, and
remember that Peter is by profession a fisherman, not a medical doctor, but
when led by the Spirit Peter is used in the life of a man named Aeneas to
restore his health. This is the written
account: “There
he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And
Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your
bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw
him, and they turned to the Lord. (Acts 9:33-35 ESV)
My prayer is that you understand, Peter was the tool, and
the tool understood who was the healer, and the tool gave full credit to Jesus
Christ. Now faith like Peter’s gets the
attention of folks and some of the disciples of Christ in Joppa and that is
near Lydda where Peter was, ask him to come to Joppa. A disciple named Tabitha, or translated means
Dorcas, was ill and had died and was washed and laid in an upper room. While she was alive she was known for doing
acts of kindness to those she came in contact with, and the widow began to show
Peter all the things she had done for them and others. Now Peter put them out of the upper room and
this is the account of what happen: “But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and
prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her
eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised
her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it
became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed
in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.” (Acts 9:40-43 ESV)
Your first thought may be, has this happened since the early
church, and the answer is yes, it is even happening today, but not in the
American church, it’s happening in many parts of the world, where we find the
church living under persecution. It is
my belief that only when we need Jesus more than we need stuff, will we ever
come to being alive with authority and power.
Then we, like the disciples, will not place our identity in
denominations, or where we are employed, or in our social status, but in Jesus
Christ. And when that happens we will be
like them, “walking in the fear of the Lord and in the
comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”
Now that is true church growth!
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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