“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
The church was experiencing peace, being strengthened and it was multiplying. God was growing His church! In the midst of that climate of growth and multiplication, Luke captures two things that defined how the believers were living or “walking”:
WALKING IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD & WALKING IN THE COMFORT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The fear of the Lord is a massive theme in the bible and has profound implications on how we live as God’s people. Let me share one way I believe the fear of the Lord intersects with church planting, and more broadly the way it impacts our willingness to step out in faith to serve Christ.
The fear of the Lord subdues all lesser fears. This is similar to how our love for God subdues our lesser loves. Walking in the fear of the Lord will cause us to forsake our own comfort for the purposes and glory of God.
We lose our lives for Jesus instead of trying to preserve our lives.
“7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Php 3:7-8 (see also Mt 16:24-28)
We don’t COUNT our lives as more precious than living for CHRIST or serving CHRIST.
"22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:22-24
When we are walking in the fear of the Lord we become open-handed instead of tight-fisted. Open-handed with our desires, our comforts, our goals, our pursuits and ultimately our future!
In losing our lives, finishing our course and testifying to the gospel of the grace of God – We will forsake our COMFORT, but in God’s kindness when we lose our COMFORTS they are replaced with HIS COMFORT!
Following Jesus will be difficult, it will often be uncomfortable, it will likely be accompanied by real loss. But God’s COMFORT will help us finish the COURSE He has laid out for us. Jesus speaks of one element of the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives:
“26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Jn 14:26-27
The peace Jesus leaves with us and gives to us, flows from the Holy Spirit who is given to us and who will always be with us! So whatever shade of discomfort, difficulty, trial, loss or affliction that comes as we follow Jesus, our hearts need not be troubled or afraid.
“This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” Ps 119:50
As we fear God and follow Him, part of the comforting ministry of the Holy Spirit is to help us remember all Jesus has said – Both promises and commands! Today, as we pray for our own hearts and as we pray for church planting, church planters and church plants…may the Holy Spirit bring to mind the promises and commands of God, to drive us to be faithful to Him and fruitful for Him.