The Book of Acts: Discipleship In Action Pt. 40 Peace, Rest & Edification in the Church.

Saul was born again on the road to Damascus and his life was changed forever by Jesus Christ. After receiving the gospel by direct revelation from Jesus, Saul returned to Damascus, preaching Christ boldly. 

Jewish religious leaders reacted the same way they did in Jerusalem with Jesus. They sought to kill Saul and the disciples helped him escape to Jerusalem.

Barnabas advocated for Saul and he was joined with the apostles and disciples remaining in Jerusalem.

Saul's bold preaching of Christ stirred up enemies. 

Acts 9:29,30  And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 30) Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 

Saul again spoke boldly. The words "spoke boldly" means speaking with freedom and without restraint as the Holy Spirit guided him. It means preaching with bold assurance and confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Saul preached in the name of the Lord Jesus, the very name he previously sought to ban. He was preaching in the synagogue of Hellenistic Jews, the same group that Stephen preached to before he was martyred. 

Saul probably preached the same truth that Stephen did, to his own discomfort. It was intolerable to these Hellenistic Jews to hear Saul accusing them of murdering their Messiah by using the very arguments that Stephen had employed.

Their reaction was predictable. They sought to kill Saul contrary to the law of God. Notice that the church in Jerusalem is now Saul's brethren in Christ. They learned of the evil plot and arranged for Saul to return to his hometown of Tarsus. 

The churches were edified after Saul's departure. 

Act 9:31  Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 

All the churches where the gospel had advanced had "rest." The word "rest" means a state of national tranquility, an exemption from the rage and havoc of war or peace between individuals. 

Harmony was a blessing from God. Peace and rest for all believers after an intense time of persecution was needed, and granted by the All Wise God. 

The word "peace" has the idea of an ongoing peace and safety, because the persecution had ceased. Many of the disciples came back to Jerusalem and the apostles began to make preaching tours out from the city.

Edification is like building your faith on the solid rock of scripture. 

Matthew 7:24,25  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 

The churches were "edified." This word has a literal and a spiritual meaning. First, it is a building term that means to build a house, erect a building or to build it up from the foundation. It means to restore something by renovation and repair. 

The ground is marked out, and a design created with dimensions of the building. Then, the foundation is dug and concrete footers poured. Next, the foundation materials of block laid are builded up with course upon course. 

Once this process is complete, the top plate is fastened and all is ready for walls, floors, ceilings and a roof to be added. The interior is appropriately finished and the building is ready to be occupied. 

All of this together is like a picture of what the word "edification" means. 

Jesus compared believers being edified by the things of God, to a person who builds his home on solid rock. His home will withstand the worst of storms because its foundation is secure and unshakable.  

Edification is like a plant deeply rooted in the soil of God's Word. 

Colossians 2:6-7  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7)  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 

Second, it refers to a believer being established in their faith, where preaching and teaching promote spiritual growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, and blessedness. 

Paul compared being edified to a plant that puts down deep roots into the soil, in order to obtain the best nutrients and absorb life giving water. A deep rooted plant will not be easily dislodged by strong winds or torrential rains. 

You can see the connections between plants that thrive, grow and produce abundant fruit and the spiritual life of a Christian. 

Jesus taught us that He is the vine who carries water and nutrition throughout the plant, and we are branches attached to Christ, our vine (John 15).

Edification means producing fruit for our Lord and Master. 

Matthew 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 

This is a rhetorical question requiring a "No" answer. Men do not harvest grapes or figs from thorn bushes or thistles. 

We can differentiate between a believer in Jesus Christ and an unbeliever. One will have evidence of fruit while the other will not have any fruit. 

"Fruit" is not defined for us in these texts, but Paul did give us a detailed description of the fruit of the Spirit of God in Galatians 5:22-23. Paul also expanded on love as a fruit of the Spirit, by showing us what love does or does not do (1 Corinthians 13). 

Good trees produce good fruit. 

Matthew 7:17,18  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 

Believers must be edified by building their lives upon the solid rock of scripture. Believers must be edified by sinking their roots deep into the fertile soil of God's truth. 

Only when we have allowed the Spirit of God to build up our faith in Christ, can we be like a good tree producing good harvests of fruit. Only then can we be like good branches in the vine producing the best quality of grapes. 

Corrupt trees will be burned.

Matthew 7:19,20  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 

Jesus concluded this teaching by reminding us to look at the fruit in our own lives to see if we are producing a harvest of souls for our Lord. Any tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and burned. 

Believers in the church walk in the fear of the Lord. 

Proverbs 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.      

The fear of the Lord brings us to the beginning point of true wisdom and understanding. 

Proverbs 10:27  The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

The fear of the Lord adds days to our lives, whereas sin shortens life. 

Proverbs 14:26  In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

The fear of the Lord nurtures our faith and strengthens our hope in Christ. 

Proverbs 14:27  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

The fear of the Lord leads to living the best life possible until we arrive in heaven.

Proverbs 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Having the fear of the Lord is better than having all the riches of the world. 

Proverbs 16:6  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

The fear of the Lord helps men avoid evil choices. It leads to confession of sin and having the blood of Jesus cleanse our sins away. 

Proverbs 19:23  The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

The fear of the Lord leads to a full and satisfied life. We are satisfied with our vocation, our status, our wealth whether much or little. Why? Because we have all things in Christ and are joint heirs with Him. 

Therefore, we are rich toward God even if we are poor from the world's view.  

The churches were walking in the fear of the Lord. We know that the verb "walk" refers to how we live our life, either for self or for the glory of God. Our walk leaves behind a pattern marked out by our moral choices. 

The phrase "fear of the Lord" is used thirty times in scripture and it is well worth your time to read through each reference and think about them. 

Believers walk in the fear of the Lord. What does this mean? It means keeping a tender conscience toward God by confessing and abhorring all sin. 

It means having respect for God's commands and  dreading to offend him because of all He does for us through Christ.  Without having an appropriate fear of God we will never choose to obey God and shun sin. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Are we enjoying peace and rest through our faith in Jesus Christ? Take time to slow down and meditate on the truths we have studied. 

God does not want each of us to be running around in a panic as we navigate through this life. He wants us to walk humble with Him, depending upon God to meet all our needs. 

Are we being edified? I hope each of us are connected to a strong Bible preaching church. I hope that each of us have some good Christian friends who will help us when we need it, who will encourage us when we are discouraged and who will challenge us when we become complacent.

Are we walking in the fear of the Lord? There are many wonderful benefits for each believer who chooses to give God the reverential fear and respect that He alone deserves. 

Those who never cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord will lose out on many blessings from God.

Let this day be a day when you and I decide to follow Christ with all of our mind, heart, soul and strength.

Bob