So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being build up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Acts 9:31
The church grows in two ways according to this passage of Scripture:
1) To walk in the fear of the Lord
Proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
It is holy fear that will give us the building blocks that we need. Through the fear of the Lord, we obey, we strive, we persevere. The more we obey, the more we learn.
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13
If fearing God is the first of the whole duty of man, the church ought to be build upon it.
A church who fears the Lord will do nothing on purpose to stray from Him. There is only one kind of fear that is good and it is that which is reverential towards God. Fearing Him causes us to obey and when we obey, we abide in Him continually and we will not, by any means, do anything to rebel against Him. Fearing God is loving God. Because we love Him, we seek to please Him.
2) To walk in the comfort of the Holy Spirit
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever-John 14:16 AMP
The Holy Spirit, to the believer, is many things. The Amplified version says it clearer than the other versions because here, we see that He is not just a Helper. He is also a Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener, and Standby.
Walking in the comfort of the Holy Spirit is a much needed thing in the church as Jesus did not conceal the fact that many troubles and persecutions will come because of His name.
In times on trial, one of the most valuable things that a person can receive is comfort; simply knowing that there's someone who won't let you down, and it is one of the things that the Holy Spirit does: to comfort.
The Holy Spirit is the One who reminds us of the Words of God. Sometimes He reminds us simply that there IS a God. That alone, in times of persecution, brings a great deal of relief.
A Spirit filled church will always be moving on towards the right direction.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being build up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Acts 9:31
The early church, and growing churches today, live out these two principles. It brings for multiplication.
Have reverential fear for the Lord, and trust in his Holy Spirit.
