The cloud LEADS/GUIDES/PROTECTS/PROVIDES

Persecution/Blessing/Increase/Complacency

Persecution/Blessing/Increase/GREATER INCREASE

• Outpouring of the Spirit
• Dramatic increase
• Dramatic opposition
• Dramatic persecution

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Acts 2:42-47 (NLT)

⁴² All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

⁴³ A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. ⁴⁴ And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. ⁴⁵ They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. ⁴⁶ They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— ⁴⁷ all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Acts 4:29-30 (NLT)

^29 “And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.³⁰ Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Don’t exchange the favor of God for the favor of man.

Acts 4:33 (NLT)

“The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.”

Acts 5:11-16 (NLT)

11 “Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.  ¹² The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹³ But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. ¹⁴ Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. ¹⁵ As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.¹⁶ Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.”

Acts 8:1-3 (NLT)

¹“A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. ² (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) ³ But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

Acts 8:4-8 (NLT)

⁴“But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. ⁵ Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. ⁶ Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. ⁷ Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So there was great joy in that city.

Isaiah 60:1-3 (NLT)

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.
For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.
² Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,
but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you.
³ All nations will come to your light;
mighty kings will come to see your radiance.

Acts 9:4-5 (NLT)

⁴“He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

⁵ “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!”

Acts 9:31 (NKJV)

³¹ Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”

When you don’t have to fight to stay alive you can practice what God has taught you through the trial, wilderness, into the Promised Land.

The early church walked out two conditions – the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

An abundant lifestyle apart from the fear of the Lord will destroy life.

Jesus did not present His followers with benefits but challenges.  If they could take the challenges they could handle the blessings.

Grieving the Holy Spirit – doing something wrong.

Quenching the Holy Spirit – failure to do something right.

Psalm 67:1-2 (NKJV)

¹God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us,
² That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

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