So the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace, as it was being built up; and as it continued in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it kept increasing.
Acts 9:31 NASB2020
Do you want fruitful ministry? Do you want to see many souls saved, lives transformed and people walking in the fullness of life in the Spirit? Then stay faithful to the One who called you to Himself. It’s that simple.
Jesus is the Word of God. What’s a word? It’s something that represents something else. It carries a whole lot of meaning in a small package. It’s a way to communicate meaning between people. We use words everyday, right?
If you say, “yes” people know you are in agreement. If you say, “no” people know you are not in agreement with whatever is being offered. If you say, “Jesus is the Son of God” you’re agreeing that He’s the visible representation of the invisible God. He is the Messenger of God.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Word. Once again, it’s the invisible essence of who Jesus is. Jesus and the Father are One. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are One. The Father and the Holy Spirit are One. They’re all One. We call it the Trinity and it breaks my brain trying to understand it, but I choose to believe God at His word and that’s enough for me. There is One, True and Living God. It’s a triune being.
The other way I think of the Trinity is like how humans are constructed. We have a spirit, soul and body. The soul is the seat of the mind, will and emotions. They’re invisible, but it’s the essence of who you are. I think of the Father as the soul of God. He’s the One calling the shots. Jesus is the body, because He had flesh obviously. And the Holy Spirit is the spirit. That’s not much of a stretch to believe. So just as we are one person with three interrelated but distinct modes of being, so is our Creator God. Anyways, that’s not what I intended to talk about this morning. Let’s move on.
We want the Church to grow. We want it to increase, yes? Don’t focus on the result you want, focus on the way to get there.
The Church is built up in love. So love first. No matter what. That’s who God is and we are His children, so we must become the children of love. How do we do that? By continuing in the fear of the Lord. What does that mean? Fear God because He’s the Judge and Lawgiver. That means we should humble ourselves, seek His will first, and then do it. Repent from dead works.
Finally, continue in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Remember the Holy Spirit? He’s the Spirit of the Word. So as you read and study the written Word of God, we call it the Bible, let it renew your mind with truth. Do it everyday, as much as possible, and take it to heart. Let it transform you. God’s Spirit is active. When we read and hear the written Word, the Spirit works on our souls to cleanse us of false beliefs and deception. It replaces them with the truth.
Now think about this: how much truth is there in the world? How loud is the world? Where’s the world going?
Conversely, how much truth is in the Bible? How loud is the Bible? Mine doesn’t talk. I have to interact with it to give its words a voice. Where is the Bible leading us? What’s the Spirit of the Word? Holiness.
So what is the fruit of faithfulness? God’s will being made manifest. So don’t worry about the results or metrics. Focus on the methods of success and in due season you will reap a mighty harvest.
May the God of all grace be with you and guide you in the fullness of His love to be a faithful worker in the harvest. And may He give you peace, comfort and understanding through every trial and every storm. May His love never fail you. Amen.
Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.
Psalms 1:1-3 NASB2020
Igniter Ministries 