Summary: Acts chapter 9 provides a snap-shot of a healthy and thriving church that was flowing with the Holy Spirit. This is an example to the church today.

 Many churches through the centuries have looked to the New Testament church in the Acts as a model of what Christ is wanting in his body

 In Acts 9 we see an example of a healthy and thriving church

MAIN TEXT:

Acts 9:31 Then the churches throughout 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, they were multiplied.

5 Evidences of a Healthy Church

1. Peace

 There is a peace that God has created for His people

 It is beyond human comprehension

 It is a heavenly resource

Phil 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 God’s peace will surpass our own natural reasoning, our own experience, our own logic

 God’s peace will cause you to stay the course no matter what

 This peace is not produced by accomplishment, it comes from relationship, It is a gift, a benefit

 Ps 29:11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

 The Lord is speaking peace to His church (imparting)

 Ps 85:8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly.

 You can tell if a congregation is flowing in the spirit or in the flesh by the peace in that house

 Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

 You can tell if a congregation is in faith by the peace in that house

 Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

 We should experience is every facet of our lives

 2 Thess 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

2. Edification

 Edification means to promote growth within someone by teaching, encouragement and deeds

 Produced by love and sound doctrine

 It is the mark of an unselfish church

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

 This should be our pursuit in regards to how we treat our brothers and sisters in the church

 Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

 Our words and actions should impart grace (God’s love) to others

 1 Timothy 1:4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

 Edification is not manipulative or self-serving

 1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

 There are things we can do in the church, that are religious, that are technically scriptural but are not helpful – and do not edify

3. Walking In Fear of The Lord

 It is a reverence, a state of awe, an understanding, a respect for our God and His commandments

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 This is where revelation begins

 Out of a reverential fear of our God – spiritual growth begins

Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.

 The Fear of the Lord causes us to do His commandments

 It is a "good understanding", a higher revelation

 The fear of the Lord brings a purity to the church

 Psalms 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.

 You will see life in a church that has the Fear of the Lord

 If you do not possess the fear of the Lord, you are an easy target for the devil

 The fear of the Lord should be taught from the elders

 Psalms 34:11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

 It will cause the church to want to avoid even the appearances of evil

 Job 28:28 And to man He said, ’Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’ "

 Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

 The fear of the Lord strengthens & protects the church

 Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.

 It brings blessing, prosperity and increase

 Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life.

4. The Comfort of The Holy Spirit

 God has made the down-payment of our inheritance, He is the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:14)

 The Holy Spirit is a tremendous resource that much of the church ignores

John 14:15-18

15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

 We are not left as orphans, We have the spirit of truth, the comforter, the counselor, bringing revelation from the throne of God

 The Holy Spirit literally wants to saturate us with God’s grace

 Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 A healthy church will abide, will flow, will listen, will yield to the Holy Spirit

5. Multiplication

 God is a god of increase – exponential increase

Acts 6:7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

 This is not just about numbers of people, but every area of our lives – our understanding, our faith, our witness, our finances, our children, our marriages

 Genesis 47:27 So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly.

 Exodus 1:7 But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

 Exodus 1:12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel.

 It is God’s joy to increase His people

 Isaiah 9:3 You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

CONCLUSION

 It is good to be in a healthy, thriving church

 We have a responsibility to one another to keep this church healthy