Picture of a Pure Church

“A Picture Of A Pure Church”
Acts 9:31
Introduction: In the previous verses, the body of Christ had been under
great persecution by the hand of Saul. Thank God, Christ met him and
changed his life on the road to Damascus. The great persecution had produced
a body of believers who were experiencing the greatest move
of the Spirit any group of Christians has ever seen. We need to look at
the characteristics of the early church to realize the goals we are working
to achieve. Finally, in verse 31, the church had rest or peace. The
term “rest” means “exemption from rage and havoc of war.”
The Church had seen God save its worst enemy who had persecuted them
untiringly. That persecution produced a Purified Church!
Below are the evidences of a purified church. Notice their...

I. Promotion -- “and were edified”
“Edified” = “instructed; improved in knowledge of religious matters”
“Edify” = “oikodomeo” = “to promote another by building up; to
improve the mind in knowledge”
Same word from which we derive “edifice” = “a building or structure”
A. Built Upon A Foundation -- Building Involves the Saviour
1. Matt. 16:18 -- “... and upon this rock I will build (oikodomeo)
my church”
2. I Cor. 3:11-12 -- “... foundation... which is Jesus Christ. Now
if any man build(epoikodomeo) upon this foundation...”
“epoikodomeo” = “to finish the structure of which the foundation
has already been laid; to build upon”
3. Acts 20:32 -- “... the word of his grace, which is able to build
(epoikodomeo)
4. Christ as the Living and Written Word is our basis of building!
B. Built Through Fellowship -- Building Involves the Family
1. I Thess. 5:11 -- “edify one another” = help to improve
2. I Cor. 14:26 -- “let all things be done unto edifying”
3. Eph. 4:16 -- “edifying of itself in love”
4. Eph. 4:29 -- “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of
your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying”
5. The purpose of the family is to promote building, not destruction!
In fact, I Cor. 14:12 states, “seek that ye excel to the edifying of
the church” Excel = “to abound” Like a flower as it goes from a
bud to a bloom. Salvation the Germination, Service the Blossom!
Point: A purified church will be one that builds upon the foundation of Christ
and promotes each other in the Word of God. This is in contrast
with most churches as there is division and strife. Conclusion? No Purity!

II. Progression -- “and walking”
“Walking” -- “poreuomai” = “to travel; to continue on one’s journey”
Picture of a man walking a path, focused upon his destination.
The position suggest relationship. Think of the symbolic meaning.
Man Lying = Our Rest Sitting = Our Meditation
Standing = Our Conviction Running = Our Service
Walking = Our Relationship = A relationship of fellowship
We travel a path with the Holy Spirit. This path is a ...
A. Path Of Reverence -- “in the fear of the Lord”
1. “Fear” = “phobos” = “that which strikes fear; to be afraid”
How can people who have “rest” also have “fear”? It is a fear
that involves “reverence.”
2. I Sam 12:24 -- “Only fear the Lord and serve him in truth...”
This Hebrew word is “Yare’” and means “to fear or revere”
3. Ps. 2:11 -- “Serve the Lord with fear” This word is the feminine
“yare”, “yir’ah” = “fear as in reverence”
4. Ps. 111:10; Prov. 9:10 -- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of Wisdom” “yir’ah” = reverence
5. Eph. 5:21 -- “Submitting yourselves... in the fear of the Lord”
6. 2 Cor. 5:11 -- “knowing therefore the terror of the Lord”
Terror = same Greek word as “fear”
B. Path Of Refreshment -- “in the comfort of the Holy Ghost”
1. “Comfort” = “paraklesis” = “a calling near for consolation,
exhortation, solace, refreshment” = “to be cheered”
2. John 14:16-26 = The comforter is the Holy Ghost, “one called
along side to help” Our walk would be lonely without the
companionship of the Holy Spirit.
3. 2 Cor.1:3 -- “...the God of all comfort”
4. Romans 15:4 -- “... patience and the comfort of the scriptures”
5. I Thess. 4:18 -- “comfort one another with these words”
Ps. 119:105 -- “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path” The Spirit consoles and encourages by the Word.
6. John 16:13 -- “... the spirit... will guide you” How? The Word
III. Producing -- “were multiplied”
“Multiplied” = “plethuno” = “to be increased; to grow”
The church that is pure will be increasing
A. Growth In The Christian
1. The Area of Giving -- 2 Cor 9:10 -- “multiply your seed sown”
2. Romans 5:13 -- “abound in hope”
3. 2 Cor 8:7 -- “as ye abound in everything”
4. Phil. 1:9 -- “that your love may abound... in knowledge”
5. I Thess 3:12 -- “increase and abound in love one toward
another”
6. I Peter 2:2 -- “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the
Word, that ye may grow thereby.”
7. 2 Peter 1:5-8 -- “For if these things be in you, and abound, they
make you that ye should neither be barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
8. Growth among Christian in the church is at an all time low!
Purity will cause you to produce and multiply!
B. Growth In The Church
1. Acts 6:1 -- “number of the disciples was multiplied”
2. Acts 6:7 -- “number of disciples multiplied... greatly”
3. Acts 12:24 -- “But the Word of God grew and multiplied”
4. God wants the Church to grow, but someone has to sow the
seed, water it, and promote it!
5. Purity will cause a church to be burden about producing for
Christ.

Conclusion: The early church was on fire. The Scripture gives us three
evidences of a purified church. Are we promoting? Are we progressing?
Are we producing? We want the old days, without the old ways!
We must be willing to sacrifice all we have to experience the power of the
early church! I want our church to have rest. It only comes through purity!