“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied” (Acts 9:31).

We’ve been thinking about the fear of the Lord. I cannot begin to adequately convey the sense of breathtaking awe, the holy terror of the Lord in His shining perfections. Then the truth becomes even more amazing that this infinitely holy and awesome God desires a personal, loving, intimate relationship as a father with His children.

Others who are better capable of writing and explaining this overwhelmingly joyous and miraculous relationship will write and speak. From me today, I just want to rejoice in the assurance that comes to those who know, trust, and belong to the Lord Jesus. Oh, how I pray and deeply desire that entire church families throughout the United States and the world would know the Lord, preach the Word, live for the Lord, and care for each other.

In my fifty-five years of ministry, that’s what I prayed for and greatly desired for each of  our church families. Last summer I shared with you the conversation of three pastors. Let me share it with you once again.

It had been a difficult week for all three pastors. It seemed like no matter how much they tried, the three pastors were struggling with “brushfires,” as they called them. These were unnecessary hurts and upsets over non-essential things that believers were experiencing in their local churches.

“Wouldn’t you just like to have an Acts 9:31 week?” one of the pastors asked the others.

“You know,” the oldest pastor in the group replied, “I can’t help but wonder if some of the things that we deal with don’t come about because some in our local churches are not walking in the fear of the Lord. We need to be faithful and pray more earnestly that the world will not have such an influence in our church families. The fear of the Lord and the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit are truly needed just as much today as they were in the early church.”

The other pastors agreed and together pledged that they would pray more earnestly and continue to serve with grace and truth.

On this Sunday: May your local church be a genuine Acts 9:31 church.