Sermon Tone Analysis

Walking in the Fear of the Lord

The need for Persecution and Peace

Acts 9:31

Sunday, January 18, 2009

 

Introduction:  Last week, Brother Bill taught on Acts 9:19–31.

The three main issues he covered were as follows:

*1.

The need for fellowship and accountability*——Webster defines fellowship as “a community of interest.”

The very nature of fellowship—*/koinōnía /*means to share in—participation in, to commune, communion—gives us the understanding that we have responsibility (accountability) to and with one another.

*2.

The need for someone to come alone side of us (Barnabas) *All of us need encouragement—encouragement in the church comes from those who are gifted with the gift of encouragement.

*3.

There is a season for everything but that in every season there is to be fruit (vs.

31).*

God’s desire has always been that we would be fruitful and multiply ("Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply.

Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”"

(Genesis 1:22, NLT)

          I want us to take a look at the big picture of Acts today—what God has said he is going to do—and is now doing.

Remember we began our journey in be witnesses for Jesus in the first chapter of Acts and with the 8th verses, /“//But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””/

(Acts 1:8, ESV) 

 

God knows that two conditions (we could call them seasons) need to be present for us to fulfill the great commission of Matthew 28: 18-20, /“//And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

//Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, //teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””(/Matthew

28:18-20, ESV), and the enabling power to carry out the great commission in Acts 1:8.

There must be *Persecution *(scattering)* and Peace* (recovering and rebuilding).

God knows that He must maintain a delicate balance of the two—for too much persecution and there will be a loss of faith caused by discouragement and disillusionment, and a desire to just give up.

On the other side when there is too much peace inevitably complacence and apathy become the standard—too much of either leads to inaction and a minimal amount of the life of Christ lived through the church.

Acts 9:31 finds the church in a season of peace.

Importantly, it is a time for the church to stabilize, to rebuild, and to regain strength for the next part of the great commission.

Please notice what conditions are present to make this a season of peace for the 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, ESV)    /“//The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord.

And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.”/

(Acts 9:31, NLT)

 

I want you to look at 6 important words that will help us understand this season of peace:

*1.     **Church*—/ ekklesia—/the word is used 114 in the New Testament—Gk.

/ekklēsia/, singular in the earliest and best manuscripts of this verse.)

There must have been hundreds of churches in the small cities and towns throughout this large region, but all of them together were called “the church.”

*2.

**Peace*—/Eirene (/i·*ray*·nay)— a state of freedom from anxiety and inner turmoil—‘peace, freedom from worry.

The church at peace is able to listen to the Holy Spirit—a time for recovery.

This is not down time, but rather grounding time.

*3.     **Built up*—/oikodomos(/oy·kod·om·*eh*·o)—to edify, to strengthen, to rebuild,  to restore, to repair, to promote growth in

*4.     **Fear*—phobos—the word as used in this verse means a Holy reverence, a worshiping respect for God.

Walking in fear“—walking” (in Greek) refers to conduct or way of life.

Living in reverence to God.

*5.     **Comfort*—[/paraklesis/ ~/par·*ak*·lay·sis~/]—the Holy Spirit is the comforter—one of His primary roles in our life is to bring encouragement, consolation, and comfort.

*6.     **Multiplied*—[/plethuno/ ~/play·*thoo*·no~/]—to be increased, cause to increase, to grow in numbers.

These conditions are necessary for a season of peace—and peace is necessary for the church so that it can gear up for the next season of persecution.

We have seen this before in Acts chapter 2, /“//And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

//And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

//And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

//And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

//And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, //praising God and having favor with all the people.

And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”/

(Acts 2:42-47, ESV)  

Next week, I want to continue with the second season, the season of persecution—also I want to echo what Bill said last week—that no matter what the season might be at any given time—when we are doing what Jesus commands—when God is expanding his kingdom through us, there will be fruitfulness—increase.

/ /

/ /