Increasing the Word
When describing the transformational gospel impact the early church was making in the first century, Doctor Luke wrote, “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily” (Acts 19:20). The verses leading up to Acts 19:20 record some extraordinary miracles God performed through Paul, and also some demonic activity that revealed that Paul was known as a threat in the realm of darkness (v.15).
It’s important to note that the reason Paul was recognized among demons wasn’t first because of the extraordinary miracles God did through him, but because those miracles opened the door for the proclamation of the gospel, which brought many to saving faith. Furthermore, the greater miracle that took place among those who came to faith in Christ, was not the physical miracles, but their spiritual transformation which set them free in Christ. This inner transformation was seen in the bonfire they started using their cultic books. Those cultic books, which they cast in the fire, were of great value in those days, but they were nothing compared to the treasure believers found in Jesus (Acts 19:19).
With this background, we read in verse 20: “So, the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily” (Acts 19:20). What are the marks of a healthy church? There are a number of characteristics that we can point to, but what I want to focus on, as a matter of prayer, is found in Acts 19:20. Some might gauge the health of a church by the size of its congregation. But for a number of reasons, size, whether big or small, doesn’t always mean that a church is healthy or not. When pointing out how God was at work through the church, repeatedly the book of Acts points first to the word of God increasing, more so than the size of the congregation increasing.
How did the word of God increase? It increased not only because more people were listening to the word, but because the people listening became more than consumers of the word. They also began to communicate the word in their circles of influence and beyond (Acts 6:7; 8:1,4; 19:20).
The goal of the church, which makes us a threat to the realm of darkness, is not increasing its seating capacity, but increasing its sending capacity (i.e. making disciples that spread the fame of Jesus). In the gospel of John, Jesus said to His Apostles, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21). The word Apostle means “sent one.” Although the 12 Apostles had a unique calling, all believers have been sent. If you’re saved, you are a “sent one” in that, as God sent Jesus into the world to spread the word and make disciples, you also have been sent.
Do you report to God for duty every morning? Is there a person that you know God wants you to talk to on His behalf? As Ron Hutchcraft explained: “The starting point for any rescue conversation about Jesus is not talking to a person about God, but talking to God about that person.”
The following scriptures demonstrate that talking to others on God’s behalf begins with talking to God about others:
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” (Colossians 4:2-4)
“One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (Acts 16:14).
“praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:19-20).
The blood that Jesus shed not only sets sinners free from the power of sin, satan and death, but gives us access to the throne room of heaven where we can receive the divine assistance we need to push back the darkness.
Do you regularly talk to God on behalf of others so that you can talk to others on God’s behalf? Do you pray as the New Testament teaches us for doors of opportunity to be opened to share the word, for hearts to open to pay attention to the word and for your mouth to be open to speak the word with clarity and courage? We don’t overcome the darkness of this world by isolating ourselves, but by praying for the grace to engage the darkness with the saving power of the gospel.
John Piper said it powerfully: “Prayer is a war-time walkie-talkie, not a domestic intercom for ringing up the butler to change the thermostat. It is a war-time walkie-talkie to call in firepower because the enemy is greater than we are. If you try to turn this into a domestic intercom to bring another pillow, it malfunctions, and you wonder why. It’s not made to be an intercom. Its made to be a war-time walkie-talkie.”
Remember, as Christians, we are sent ones. Do you report to God for duty every morning? Do you ask the Lord, “Where are you sending me today? Who do you want me to speak to on your behalf?”
May we devote ourselves to praying the “three open” prayer, “Lord, open doors of opportunity for me to share the word, open hearts to pay attention to the word and open my mouth to speak the word with clarity and courage. Before talking to others on God’s behalf, talk to God about others who need Jesus and watch God work.
In your service,
Pastor Marco
It’s important to note that the reason Paul was recognized among demons wasn’t first because of the extraordinary miracles God did through him, but because those miracles opened the door for the proclamation of the gospel, which brought many to saving faith. Furthermore, the greater miracle that took place among those who came to faith in Christ, was not the physical miracles, but their spiritual transformation which set them free in Christ. This inner transformation was seen in the bonfire they started using their cultic books. Those cultic books, which they cast in the fire, were of great value in those days, but they were nothing compared to the treasure believers found in Jesus (Acts 19:19).
With this background, we read in verse 20: “So, the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily” (Acts 19:20). What are the marks of a healthy church? There are a number of characteristics that we can point to, but what I want to focus on, as a matter of prayer, is found in Acts 19:20. Some might gauge the health of a church by the size of its congregation. But for a number of reasons, size, whether big or small, doesn’t always mean that a church is healthy or not. When pointing out how God was at work through the church, repeatedly the book of Acts points first to the word of God increasing, more so than the size of the congregation increasing.
How did the word of God increase? It increased not only because more people were listening to the word, but because the people listening became more than consumers of the word. They also began to communicate the word in their circles of influence and beyond (Acts 6:7; 8:1,4; 19:20).
The goal of the church, which makes us a threat to the realm of darkness, is not increasing its seating capacity, but increasing its sending capacity (i.e. making disciples that spread the fame of Jesus). In the gospel of John, Jesus said to His Apostles, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21). The word Apostle means “sent one.” Although the 12 Apostles had a unique calling, all believers have been sent. If you’re saved, you are a “sent one” in that, as God sent Jesus into the world to spread the word and make disciples, you also have been sent.
Do you report to God for duty every morning? Is there a person that you know God wants you to talk to on His behalf? As Ron Hutchcraft explained: “The starting point for any rescue conversation about Jesus is not talking to a person about God, but talking to God about that person.”
The following scriptures demonstrate that talking to others on God’s behalf begins with talking to God about others:
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” (Colossians 4:2-4)
“One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (Acts 16:14).
“praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:19-20).
The blood that Jesus shed not only sets sinners free from the power of sin, satan and death, but gives us access to the throne room of heaven where we can receive the divine assistance we need to push back the darkness.
Do you regularly talk to God on behalf of others so that you can talk to others on God’s behalf? Do you pray as the New Testament teaches us for doors of opportunity to be opened to share the word, for hearts to open to pay attention to the word and for your mouth to be open to speak the word with clarity and courage? We don’t overcome the darkness of this world by isolating ourselves, but by praying for the grace to engage the darkness with the saving power of the gospel.
John Piper said it powerfully: “Prayer is a war-time walkie-talkie, not a domestic intercom for ringing up the butler to change the thermostat. It is a war-time walkie-talkie to call in firepower because the enemy is greater than we are. If you try to turn this into a domestic intercom to bring another pillow, it malfunctions, and you wonder why. It’s not made to be an intercom. Its made to be a war-time walkie-talkie.”
Remember, as Christians, we are sent ones. Do you report to God for duty every morning? Do you ask the Lord, “Where are you sending me today? Who do you want me to speak to on your behalf?”
May we devote ourselves to praying the “three open” prayer, “Lord, open doors of opportunity for me to share the word, open hearts to pay attention to the word and open my mouth to speak the word with clarity and courage. Before talking to others on God’s behalf, talk to God about others who need Jesus and watch God work.
In your service,
Pastor Marco