GOD CAUSES INCREASE "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God GAVE THE INCREASE. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that GIVETH THE INCREASE. " (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) ACTS 6:7 How marvelously this is seen in the description of kingdom expansion by Luke. "And the Word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:7). Other versions read, "the Word of God spread" ACTS 12:24 A similar situation occurred in the twelfth chapter of Acts. "But the word of God continued to increase and spread" (Acts 12:24). This statement is made against the backdrop of an oration made by Herod. His words were arresting, provoking his hearers to conclude he was a god. Luke gives this account of the events. "And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man" (Acts 12:21-22). This event was compounded by Herod's earlier martyrdom of James and imprisonment of Peter. It appeared as though Herod was the living one, exercising dominion and influence irrepressibly. ACTS 19:20 Another such occasion is briefly described in Acts 19:20. "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." This occasion took place in the city of Ephesus. Under the powerful administration of the Spirit, "God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul." The time was so remarkable that "from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them" (19:11-12). It was no ordinary occasion. it was also the only time in all of Scripture that such a thing occurred. WHAT IS GROWING THESE DAYS? We are also living in times of growth, but it is not the Word of God that is growing, and it is not the number of disciples that is multiplying. For the first time in centuries, North America is the only continent where Christianity is not growing. The number of professed believers in the United States is shrinking, as well as the number of churches. For every mega-church that opens, there are hundreds of older churches that are closing their doors. -- Tomorrow:
This occasion immediately followed the choosing of seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, who oversaw the daily distribution of needs to the widows of the church. This was done in order that the Apostles might give themselves "continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word" (6:1-4). It was then that "the Word of God increased," "the number of the disciples multiplied," and "a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
There are two ways in which the Word of God "increased." First, since the Apostles were able to devote themselves more fully to prayer and the ministry of the Word, it was proclaimed more and more. There was more time devoted to ministering the Word, and consequently the Lord opened more doors for that activity. Those who have not devoted themselves to the ministry of the Word will not be given open doors to proclaim it. Second, as a result of the increased preaching of the Word, the number of the disciples "multiplied . . . greatly." Those disciples also spread the word, as took place in the first persecution of the church. "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word" (Acts 8:4).
Herod's words seemed powerful, but they were not! They caused a reaction, but they did not bring life. In fact, they were the occasion of his own dreadful death. "And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died" (Acts 12:23, NASB).
The very next words affirm, "But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied." While Herod's words were brought to an abrupt halt, God's word grew and multiplied. It grew in the sense of being heard more frequently and powerfully. It grew in its acceptance. It became more prominent on the tongues and in the hearts of men.
Like emulators of our day, certain vagabond Jews thought they would join in the works, unaware the real works were being orchestrated by the Lord. They took it upon themselves to cast evil spirits out of an oppressed man. They used the names of Jesus and Paul in their formula. Instead of bringing relief to the possessed man, he "leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." This event was made known throughout the region (19:13-17).
As a result, "many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds." Many who practiced sorcery and magic "brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver" (19:19). A "piece of silver" was considered to be a days wages (NIV). If that is true, the value of the books these people burned was equal to about 136 years wages! People who are not serious do not do something like that!
Right after the record of that book burning incident, it is written, "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." It smashed the empire of darkness that had dominated that region. It moved people to not only abandon "curious arts," but to burn the books associated with them. The word of God "prevailed!" Old customs could not stand in its wake. It so spread that IT was the subject of discussion, not the "curious arts" that has long dominated that region.
Within this framework, certain things are growing in the professed Christian community. Formal education is growing. Psychiatry is growing. Motivational specialists are growing. Entertainment is growing. We have more comedians ands musicians that are wearing the name of Jesus. There are more book publishers. "Christian" jewelry is growing. But more is growing than specialists and businesses. Immorality is growing in the church. Scriptural illiteracy is growing. Lukewarmness is growing. Divorce and marital infidelity are growing.
It is not my purpose to sound morose, and cast the mantle of discouragement upon sincere souls. It is, however, necessary for the people of God to have an "understanding of the times" in which they live, like the "children of Issachar" (1 Chron 12:32). There are pockets of believers in which renewal is taking place. But this is not the trend of the Western world.
It is refreshing to consider that "there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few" (1 Sam 14:6). All that is required is a few dedicated laborers -- a few who will give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word -- and the Word of God can grow and increase again!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask You, the Lord of the harvest, to sent out laborers into Your harvest!