Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (Acts 9:31)
At that time, the persecution of the churches temporarily stopped, so the church was able to enjoy a period of safety and security. Churches around the world have not lost their vigilance during the present time period of peace and security, nor have they become lukewarm, but have been experiencing more and more revival. At that time, the church was revived because of the comfort and power brought by the Holy Spirit. The reason why the church was received power from the Holy Spirit was that they feared the Lord in all things.
To fear the Lord in all things means to fear the Lord in everything, whether it is a big thing or small, whether in the open or in private. First of all, a church that fears the Lord must be obedient to the Lord, obeying the Lord's teachings in everything. Secondly, the church that fears the Lord also loves holiness and is far from evil. They dare not sin against God in anything and have the courage to confront sin.
Most churches are in a safe and secure situation, but many churches have not only not been revived, but they have also become lukewarm. Some churches even have fewer and fewer believers. Some churches want to be revived, so they do everything they can to attract people to the church. They organize events and make changes, but little comes from their efforts. The reason is that they put cart before the horse, and they ignore the most important thing-fearing the Lord in all things.
If you do not fear the Lord, you will naturally not obey the Lord and not follow his instructions. You will not even rely on the Lord and may fall into sin. For example, there may be disputes between different parties, and in order to attract people to the church, they do not preach the truth, are not faithful and present a biased gospel such as a theology of success.
If a church wants to fear the Lord in everything, each Christian should first be willing to change. The church is made up of people called by God. When each Christian can fear the Lord in words, thoughts, and actions, he can fear the Lord in everything. When every Christian in the church can fear the Lord, the church will fear the Lord in everything and will naturally revive.
(Note: The author of this article is a full-time co-worker in a grassroots church in Fujian)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
使徒行传灵修系列：教会复兴的秘诀
那时，犹太、加利利、撒玛利亚各处的教会都得平安，被建立；凡事敬畏主，蒙圣灵的安慰，人数就增多了（使徒行传9:31）。
那时各地教会的逼迫暂时停止了，所以教会可以享受一段平安稳妥的日子。各地教会并没有在这种平安稳妥的日子中失去警醒，也没有变得不冷不热，反而越发复兴。当时教会能得到复兴，是因为得到蒙圣灵的安慰，就是得着圣灵能力的帮助。教会之所以会得到圣灵能力的帮助，是因为他们凡事敬畏主。
凡事敬畏主是指在任何事上都敬畏主，无论是大事还是小事，无论是在人前的事，还是私下的事。首先一个敬畏主的教会，一定是顺服主的教会，所以凡事都会顺服主的教导去行。其次敬畏主的教会，也是一个喜爱圣洁，远离恶事的教会，所以凡事都不敢犯罪得罪神，也敢于对付罪恶。
反观现今绝大多数的教会都是处在平安稳妥的处境中，可是许多教会不仅没有得着复兴，反而陷入不冷不热的景况中，有些教会甚至人数越来越少。有些教会也一心想要复兴，所以想尽一切办法吸引人来教会，又是举办活动，又是改革的，可是却收获甚微。之所以会出现这种情况，是因为本末倒置的缘故，忽略了最重要的因素——凡事敬畏主。
不敬畏主，自然就不顺服主，也不遵行主的教导，更是不会倚靠主，而且还会出现不圣洁的罪恶之事。例如出现结党纷争的现象，甚至为了吸引人来教会，不忠心传讲真道，传讲偏颇的福音，成功神学就是典型的例子。
一个教会若是要做到凡事敬畏主，就需要先从每一个基督徒开始，因为教会是由神所呼召的一群人所组成的。当每一个基督徒能够在言语、思想和行为上敬畏主，就做到凡事敬畏主了。当教会的每一个基督徒能做到凡事敬畏主，教会自然也会凡事敬畏主，教会也自然会复兴。
（注：本文作者为福建一基层教会全职同工）
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (Acts 9:31)
At that time, the persecution of the churches temporarily stopped, so the church was able to enjoy a period of safety and security. Churches around the world have not lost their vigilance during the present time period of peace and security, nor have they become lukewarm, but have been experiencing more and more revival. At that time, the church was revived because of the comfort and power brought by the Holy Spirit. The reason why the church was received power from the Holy Spirit was that they feared the Lord in all things.
To fear the Lord in all things means to fear the Lord in everything, whether it is a big thing or small, whether in the open or in private. First of all, a church that fears the Lord must be obedient to the Lord, obeying the Lord's teachings in everything. Secondly, the church that fears the Lord also loves holiness and is far from evil. They dare not sin against God in anything and have the courage to confront sin.
Most churches are in a safe and secure situation, but many churches have not only not been revived, but they have also become lukewarm. Some churches even have fewer and fewer believers. Some churches want to be revived, so they do everything they can to attract people to the church. They organize events and make changes, but little comes from their efforts. The reason is that they put cart before the horse, and they ignore the most important thing-fearing the Lord in all things.
If you do not fear the Lord, you will naturally not obey the Lord and not follow his instructions. You will not even rely on the Lord and may fall into sin. For example, there may be disputes between different parties, and in order to attract people to the church, they do not preach the truth, are not faithful and present a biased gospel such as a theology of success.
If a church wants to fear the Lord in everything, each Christian should first be willing to change. The church is made up of people called by God. When each Christian can fear the Lord in words, thoughts, and actions, he can fear the Lord in everything. When every Christian in the church can fear the Lord, the church will fear the Lord in everything and will naturally revive.
(Note: The author of this article is a full-time co-worker in a grassroots church in Fujian)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Devotional Series From Acts: The Secret of the Church's Revival
