“Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.” —Acts 9:22 NIV
What are you EXPECTING?
I believe that GROWTH and INCREASE should be the DEFAULT EXPECTATIONS for every believer.
Acts 9:22 occurs on the heels of the conversion of Saul. This dude was a first century religious radical. But following an incredible “smackdown” with Jesus on the way to Damascus on a mission of murder, Saul became a messenger of the gospel of God’s amazing grace!
His transformation was radical in every way!
On the heels of his conversion, a guy named Ananias “laid hands on him” — symbolic of a transference of power and authority. From this point on, Saul, who went to rabbinical school and was taught by a gifted Torah Teacher (Acts 22:3), and probably at the top of his class — immediately became not simply a Torah Teacher, but a rabbi with “s’mikhah” — a teacher with authority. He became a missionary and evangelist!
Verse 20 says “…immediately he began preaching about Jesus in synagogues…”
It’s interesting that in Verse 2 of this same chapter Saul had been authorized by synagogues to “arrest any followers of the Way” and to even bring them back to Jerusalem “in chains.”
When he began his ministry, he didn’t begin preaching “to the choir.”
He didn’t take the message to the “already convinced.”
He went back to people who were just like he was — religious, but lost — and He shared with them the message of Jesus — Jesus crucified, buried and raised from the dead!
The people were amazed! (Acts 9:21) “Wait just a minute! Wasn’t this the same dude who watched as that guy Stephen was stoned to death? Isn’t this the same guy who wreaked havoc among this group of believers in Jerusalem? Wasn’t he sent here on a mission of murder by the religious authorities back in Jerusalem? What’s changed? Is this dude legit?”
The suspicions and speculation of the crowd didn’t slow Saul down! He kept preaching! His momentum kept building.
That’s when Verse 22 gives us this glimpse of His growth.
Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.—Acts 9:22 NIV
But Saul increased all the more in strength… —ESV
Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful… —NLT
This verse describes the PATTERN and STANDARD for every person who chooses to FOLLOW JESUS.
GROWTH.
INCREASE.
POWER.
Growth in POWER… Becoming more and more powerful…in character, faith, and confidence…
Growing more and more powerful…in giftedness and ability…
Increasing in…strength and stability.
Serious followers of Jesus NEVER SETTLE.
They refuse to coast or slide.
They realize that there is no room for apathy or complacency.
They know that…
GOOD is always the enemy of GREAT.
Being GREAT always requires GROWTH, and,
GROWTH is always UP.
That’s not to imply that there won’t be setbacks, failures, challenges or valleys, But even when we walk the “the valley of the shadow of death,” we WALK thru it. We refuse to CAMP OUT, SETTLE or LIVE IN IT… We keep walking because we know that walking thru the occasional valley is the only way we’ll ever make it to our mountain of BREAKTHROUGH GROWTH!
GROWTH + INCREASE are the EXPECTATION!
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJ) says it like this: “…we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
The NIV says that we are “…being transformed into His image with ever increasing glory…”
The Passion Translation says that “…we move from one brighter level of glory to another.”
That’s the pattern.
Glory to glory.
Growth to growth.
Increase to more increase.
One “brighter LEVEL of GLORY to ANOTHER.”
- God’s plan for your PERSONAL LIFE is GROWTH.
Growth in GRACE (2 Peter 3:18).
Growth in KNOWLEDGE that’s rooted in an authentic EXPERIENCE with Jesus (2 Peter 3:18).
Growth in inner STRENGTH (Ephesians 3:16).
Growth in perseverance and CHARACTER (Romans 5:3-5).
Growth in FAITH (2 Thess 1:3)
Growth in LOVE for GOD and PEOPLE (Matt 22:37-40; Phil 1:9; 1 Thes 3:12; 2 Thess 1:3)
- God’s plan for His CHURCH is always GROWTH.
Saul eventually went back to Jerusalem and attempted to meet with the leaders of the first century church. They were “all afraid of him” (v. 26). They doubted his conversion… “Maybe this is just some kind of undercover operation by the first century Pharisee mafia.”
But, then, BARNABAS, whose name means “son of ENCOURAGEMENT” — Oh, God, give us more people like BARNABAS — gave Saul his endorsement and seal of approval. The church embraced Saul!
So, once again, he immediately went back to work preaching — now in Jerusalem. He preached with such passion, conviction and boldness that another group of people tried to murder this new convert (Acts 9:28). This was becoming a pattern..
Why?
Because from the get go, Saul was convinced that the MISSION of JESUS was essential!
The MESSAGE he had received was transformational.
God’s AGENDA was monumental!!!
God’s desire was for more and more people to come to know and experience Jesus as forgiver of sin and leader of their life.
Acts 9:31 gives us a snapshot into “ordinary” life in the first century church.
The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers. —Acts 9:31 NLT
…the church grew. They were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God. The Holy Spirit was with them, strengthening them. They prospered wonderfully. —Acts 9:31 MSG
This was the pattern in the book of Acts.
It should be the expectation of the church today!
The church “grew in numbers.”
The church “prospered wonderfully.”
This entire passage is so important for THIS MOMENT in HISTORY. Because there are those who would have to believe that with the arrival of COVID-19, lockdown, quarantine, social distancing, face masks, civil unrest, political tension, etc., that the church should perhaps cede, surrender or give up on 2020 altogether and just count it as a loss…
A loss in impact.
Loss in attendance.
Loss in mission.
Loss in purpose.
Loss in resources.
Loss in people.
But this is not a KINGDOM MINDSET!
It’s not a GOSPEL MINDSET.
It’s not a GOD MINDSET.
In fact, Jesus once described the KINGDOM like this:
…from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. —Matt 11:12 NLT
The Passion Translation renders Jesus’ statement like this: “…the moment John stepped onto the scene until now, the realm of heaven’s kingdom is bursting forth, and passionate people have taken hold of its power.” —Matt 11:12 TPT
The ESV reads, “…the violent take it by force.”
If we use a combination of all three translations, we can arrive at some implications about this unique moment in history.
The current challenges we face can’t stop the FLOW and GROWTH and ADVANCE of the KINGDOM of GOD! They CAN’T STOP IT!
GOD’S KINGDOM has been and still is “forcefully advancing…”
God didn’t call “time out” when COVID hit.
God didn’t say, “Oh, I wasn’t expecting that…” when protests turned into riots…
God didn’t hit the panic button when churches were asked not to gather… When, in some states, Christians were even asked not to sing…
Because centuries ago, Jesus had said, “…the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.”
Throughout history, people, leaders and governments have and always will attempt to “attack” God’s kingdom. But historically, it has often been during those periods that represented the greatest challenges and persecution for the kingdom, that the kingdom more “forcefully advanced” and took even MORE GROUND!
The Passion Translation is encouraging and inspiring in its translation of Matthew 11:12. Because it reminds us that even and especially during these historical and cultural shifts, “…the realm of heaven’s kingdom is BURSTINGFORTH…”
In other words, YOU CAN’T STOP THE EXPLOSIVE NATURE OF GOD’S KINGDOM!
“…and passionate people have taken hold of its power.” —Matt 11:12 TPT
Right now… In this moment when some are tempted to pick up their ball or Bible and go home… Even now, there is a GROUP of PEOPLE who refuse to cede 2020 to COVID-19… There is a group of people who refuse to surrender to this toxic political climate, to the cultural and social wars taking place around us… Instead, they passionately pursue and “TAKE HOLD” of the KINGDOM’S POWER!
They believe that THIS can be THE GREATEST MOMENT in the HISTORY of the CHURCH!
This can be our greatest opportunity for OUTREACH.
For IMPACT!
For HARVEST!
For LOVING UNCONDITIONALLY.
For BELIEVING PERSISTENTLY.
For SHARING the GOSPEL CREATIVELY.
For EXPANDING EXPONTENTIALLY.
For MAKING A DIFFERENCE ETERNALLY!
These “passionate people” are convinced that during this time of COVID-19, political unrest, cultural upheaval, economic uncertainty and potential calamity, this is THE TIME for the KINGDOM to TAKE GROUND, not give it…
It’s time for the KINGDOM and CHURCH to move forward, not back!
It’s time to ADVANCE, not RETREAT!
Beginning with OUR PASSION for GOD’S PRESENCE in WORSHIP, and, continuing with our GENUINE LOVE for one another and for people — especially people with whom we disagree or have little in common.
These “passionate people” believe it’s time for the CHURCH TO USE EVERY TOOL GOD HAS GIVEN US to ADVANCE the kingdom. TOOLS like…
- Creative use of VIDEO.
- Persuasive use of SOCIAL MEDIA.
- Compelling STORYTELLING.
- ANOINTED worship experiences — in-person and online.
- Multiplication of SMALL GROUPS.
- Increased circumferences of CARE.
- Sustainable, powerful and relationship-focused PROCESSES and SYSTEMS for discipleship.
- Growth of ministry TEAMS.
- Anointed TEACHING.
- PRAYER TEAMS that actually see God “confirming His Word with signs following believers” (Mark 16:17-18).
- Opportunities for PRAYER and INTERCESSION for our church, community, city, state, nation and world (Col 4:2)
- WORSHIP that brings “up there, down here.”
These “passionate people” believe that GROWTH + INCREASE should always be the EXPECTATION! Always! Especially…now! Especially…2020.
A PRAYER:
Father, forgive me for any complacency, apathy or unbelief that has caused me to simply “cede” this year to a virus, civil unrest or my own personal insecurities and fears…
Father, help me — help the leadership team You’ve called together at A2 Church and every other church — help us to LEAD at the high and creative level this season demands…
Help us to BELIEVE that GROWTH and INCREASE are always the EXPECTATION.
You long for us to GROW PERSONALLY.
You long for CHURCHES to GROW spiritually and numerically!
Your HEART is always FOR PEOPLE!
Thank You for the creativity You are birthing in the church of Jesus.
Thank You for the creativity You are birthing at A2.
Thank You for the creativity You are birthing in me and in our team.
Thank You for all that You are doing and all you want to do in this moment.
Thank You for all that we are becoming.
“…the realm of heaven’s kingdom is bursting forth, and passionate people have taken hold of its power.” —Matt 11:12 TPT
We are the “passionate people” who will take hold of the power of Your Kingdom.
I believe and pray this all in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.