Sunday Worship 21 July 2024 : The word of God grew and multiplied
Text: Acts 12 21 July 2024
INTRODUCTION
1. The Growth of the Church
a) It began as a Jewish Church
b) Samaritans were included
c) Gentiles were also included
2. There were many features that helped to grow the Church
a) The Holy Spirit
b) The Apostles
c) Outstanding men of faith and power
THE PLACE OF THE WORD OF GOD
1. The Preaching of the Word of God
a) Peter’s maiden message (Acts 2)
b) Preaching the Word of God at the Temple (Acts 3)
2. Tracing the place of God’s Word in the Book of Acts
a) The Scriptures were cited
i) To explain the death of Judas (Acts 1:16)
ii) In appointing another Apostle (Acts 1:20)
iii) In understanding the outpouring of the Spirit (Acts 2:16-21)
iv) The resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Acts 2:25-28)
b) The Scriptures were studied
i) By the Church
ii) By the members (Acts 2:14)
c) The Scriptures were preached
i) By Peter to the crowds (Acts 3:18)
ii) There was deep commitment to preach the Word
3. The Scriptures were remembered
a) In prayer (Acts 3:25-26)
b) Praying for boldness to preach God’s word (Acts 4:29)
THE SPREAD OF THE WORD OF GOD
1. The Word of God and the multiplying of Disciples
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. Acts 6:7
2. Stephen’s message before the Sanhedrin Council
a) He was brought before the Council
b) Stephen’s defence was full of citations from the Scriptures (Acts 7)
c) He was the first martyr for the Lord (Acts 7:60)
3. The spread of the Word of God to Samaria
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:14-17
a) The Word of God spread to Samaria
b) The gift of the Holy Spirit confirmed their acceptance into the kingdom of God
4. Philip’s Evangelistic ministry to the Ethiopian eunuch
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.
27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”
34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
Acts 8:26-35
a) Angelic guidance
b) The involvement of the Holy Spirit
c) The opening up of the Scriptures
d) The preaching of the Word of God
e) This is the practice of Biblical evangelism
AN IMPORTANT SUMMARY STATEMENT
20 Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country.
21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.
22 And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”
23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and [g]died. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Acts 12:20-24
1. Resistance and Persecution of the Church
a) By the Sanhedrin Council
b) By Herod
2. But the Church kept growing
The Word of God grew and multiplied (Act 12:24)
CONCLUSION
1. The Word of God plays a vital role
a) Personal life
b) Church growth
2. The Spirit of God
a) He confirms the Word preached
b) He empowers it
3. Our Challenge
a) To stay committed to the Word of God
b) To grow deeper in knowledge and wisdom in the Word of God