Every group, every community has an atmosphere. Acts 9 clearly depicts the atmosphere of the church in that time.
Acts 9:31
31 Then the churches[d] throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
Here contains 4 ingredients that are important to creating an atmosphere of power and of growth:
Peace – Peace with God (turn towards God-repentance); Peace of God (from storms of life; Phil 4:6-7); Peace with one another (Rom 12:18; to resolve conflicts without telling the world of your problems which promotes rumours and gossip...)
Encouragement – To encourage is to edify. To edify is to strengthen, to build up, to come alongside to grow and to develop. How do we build encouragement with one another? Look for the good things of people and communicate it to them. Encouragement is oxygen for the soul! It affirms an individual and also help to progress the individual by inspiring the individual to fulfil his/her potential. Man however looks at us for who we were and who we are. God looks at us for the way we are and the way we can be. God looks at our POTENTIAL. E.g. Simon -> Peter. How do you see people? Look out for who they can be!
Encourage them with what needs adjusting so they can progress towards the potential that you see. When you observe something that needs adjusting, do not go around telling other people about the issue. But speak to the individual with honesty and in love. Speak the truth – God’s truth - in love. Feedback is not always easy but necessary.
Comfort – To comfort is to come alongside someone during a difficult time; to draw on God's comfort. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter! Have the attitude of the 3 Hebrew boys in Book of Daniel: “God can save us! God will save us! But even if God does not save us, we will still trust in Him!”
Holy Spirit has ALL that we need but He comes only when we call (when you had a burst tap, the plumber would come to solve the water problem ONLY if you called). Until we open up and share with people our problem truthfully, people can't be used by God to help/comfort. Recall those times of contradictions in your life, what was helpful to you; what was hurtful? A theological debate is not what a person needs in times of contradictions but a hand of support/comfort - just being there...
Fear of the Lord – This is not a dread of God but a reverence n respect of God. Fear of the Lord = being aware that God is with us ALL the time. Metaphor: Just like driving knowing that there is a police car beside us – we will be in our best driving behavior! Traffic laws are not to stop the fun of driving but to build a boundary of safety for fun to take place. Same with God. So if we know that God is with us all the time, we would behave differently!
The proof of our love of God is obedience to Him. Obedience is the ultimate act of worship. Most Christians are educated beyond their level of obedience. Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” He did not say, if you love me, sing/memorise my commandments. He said “keep” i.e. do.
The first church exploded in growth because of these 4 ingredients. They grew healthily and powerfully because there was peace, encouragement, comfort and a fear of the Lord, The same potential is in us to live out peace, encouragement, comfort with a fear of the Lord that we might grow individually and corporately. Our church is a reflection of who we are as the church is made of individuals. Who are you and who can you be? Start observing, adjusting and walking in obedience to God!
Jonathan signing off.