Lesson 90 – When the Spirit Multiplies

Acts 9:31

"Then the churches through 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, there were multiplied."

    This is what every pastor dreams of for the church in where they minister – that they would grow exponentially according to the Spirit's touch. Every pastor understands that church growth is not simply a matter of delivering the right programs, worship styles, faithfulness to preach, or even committed prayer warriors. While these are essential to the life of the church, when it comes to church growth, it only happens as the Spirit multiplies.

    Spiritual multiplication is the rapid spread of the gospel through the faithful witness of the church. It comes from a partnership between people and their God, one initiated by the Holy Spirit. As God calls sinners to faith through the Spirit, we are used as the witness to speak the name of Christ and lead others to salvation.

    Spiritual multiplication may be often talked about, but it only happens as God wills. We can't force it through programming. We can't make it begin through strategic planning. We don't enable it through scheduling revivals. It only follows the moving of the Spirit.

    Still, believers do have an important role in church growth. According to this text, the church needs to walk in the fear of the Lord. Our focus in life and in ministry is to be rooted in obedience, reverence, awe and commitment to Christ. If we're to be an instrument of the Lord to reach our communities, we must first be focused on our Savior.

    We are also to live in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Simply put, our source for contentment in life needs to shift from economic stability, job satisfaction, academic success, and other sources of having our acts together, to the abiding presence of the Spirit. When we claim to be men and women of faith, but don't rely on God for satisfaction in life, we're not ready to be used of the Spirit for church growth.

    I've learned over the years that church growth is really more of the Spirit then it is of our faithfulness. I've even learned that church contraction is equally of the Spirit, and that we're not to doubt our Lord in those disappointing times. As we wait for spiritual multiplication, we need to keep on keeping on, seeking our Lord, praying for his presence, and preaching the word.

LORD JESUS

Lord, I thank you for the miraculous working of your Spirit in our community. We invite you to be at work and use us as your witness to a dying world. Amen.