3 REASONS WE GROW

V.P. Black listed three reasons the church has grown rapidly: 1) they stood for something; 2) they knew what they stood for; and 3) they had the courage to carry out their convictions. The Bible says, “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1.17). It is our duty to be missional (to carry out the mission of God)–Matthew 28.19-20. In order to carry out His mission, we must stand on God’s Word and stand up for God’s Word.
We must stand for something. The Bible tells us that Peter and John were “commanded not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” However, “Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4.18-19). Our society of political correctness cannot dictate the message of God and the practice of God’s laws. We should know we will encounter persecution if we stand for God. If we have not encountered any persecution, perhaps it is because we are not standing tall enough.
We must know what for what we are to stand. We are not to stand for the doctrine of any church, the practice of any family, or the thoughts of the intellectuals. We are to stand for the truth of Christ. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 8.32). Only the truth of Christ can do that.
We must also have the courage to carry out our convictions. Paul had the courage to fulfill the mission God gave. When he was saying goodbye to the Ephesian elders for the final time the Bible records that: “He kneeled down and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him. Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more” (Acts 20.36-38). We must be willing to leave friends, family, position, and safety when we are presented with an opportunity for God which demands sacrifice.

Consider God’s Word and practice God’s Word. People need the Gospel. People need Jesus. People need to be saved from their sin. We need to help. We need to carry the Gospel to every person. We need to bring every person to the Gospel. “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1.16-17).