So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. Acts 9:31
I think it’s safe to say that since March of this year our lives here in America have been put on hold. We all have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the church is no exception. From large corporations to small businesses to houses of worship, everything for a time at least came to a screetching halt. As believers we have been scattered (sheltering in place at home) rather than gathered in the house of God. Now we are just beginning to slowly open up and move on into the public sector. It has been a diffult season, but I believe we can learn lessons from the early church.
In Luke 9 immediately after describing the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus (the apostle Paul), Luke goes on to tell of his initial efforts in serving the Lord. Luke wants us to see that Saul’s conversion was genuine. The persecutor very quickly becomes the persecuted because of his bold proclamation of Jesus as the Son of God and the Christ. But we also get a glimpse of what’s going on with the church.
Verse 31 shows the church, not just in Jerusalem, but now scattered throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, enjoying a period of rest from persecution. Although a few manuscripts read “churches,” the best reading is “church,” singular, showing the unity of the different churches scattered throughout Palestine. The word “so” is a commonly used phrase that simply indicates a transition or the resumption of a previous narrative (Acts 8:4, 25). Luke is probably going back to the dispersion and persecution that began after Stephen’s death, and saying, “After all of this, the Lord granted a period of peace.”
When the pressure is on, either through persecution or trials, we are more likely to walk closely with the Lord. We are very much aware at such times of our great need for Him, and we seek Him in earnest prayer. We are reminded of all the uncertainties of life as well as its brevity. Eternity captures our perspective and we want to make life count. But when the pressure is off, the danger that confronts us is complacency, rather than intentionality in seeking the things of God.
Luke summarizes the growth of the early church by saying that it was being built up and that it went on in the fear of the Lord. ‘The fear of the Lord’ is that reverential awe of Him, being ever conscious of His presence with us, and aiming, as our supreme aim and end, to submit our wills to His Word, and to do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
“Are you and I building ourselves up in that? Do we feel more thrillingly and gladly to-day than we did yesterday, that God is beside us? And do we submit ourselves more loyally, more easily, more joyously to His will, in blessed obedience, now than ever before? Have we learned, and are we learning, moment by moment, more of that ‘secret of the Lord’ which ‘is with them that fear Him,’ and of that ‘covenant’ which ‘He will show’ to them? Unless we do, our growth in Christian character is a very doubtful thing.” Alexander Maclaren
The verse continues with, “and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.” The word “comfort” refers to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in coming alongside to help us. Whether in a time of peace or persecution, our need for the Holy Spirit is never relegated to crisis mode as long as we seek to grow in Christ.
Luke also notes that the church continued to increase. God’s people were unstoppable! The gospel made inroads in unlikely places through undaunting men and women.
Are we bolder to-day than we were yesterday? Are we ready to meet with more undaunted confidence whatever we may have to face? Do we feel ever-increasing within us the full blessedness and inspiration of our omnipotent Helper?
If we will to walk in the fear of the Lord, and who with the fear have the courage that the divine Spirit gives, will be unstoppable like the first Christians, whatever storms might loom over us, and whatever enemies may threaten us.
Our Lord, make us an unstoppable, irrepressible, and irresistible influence for Christ’s sake like the early church.