Why the Church Keeps Growing

Hello friends. Today I want to share something that struck me as I was reading Acts chapters 7, 8, and 9. These chapters include the story of Stephen, then Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in chapter 8, and later, Saul’s conversion and his early ministry.

But something stood out at the end of chapter 9 that I’d never really noticed before. It’s found in Acts 9:31:

“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers.”

That phrase—​“living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit”—felt incredibly familiar. It reminded me of what we’re seeing today in revivals around the world. So I want to unpack it a bit.

The word ​“encouragement” here refers to the ministry of the Holy Spirit — the Paraclete. This means the Spirit was offering comfort, strength, presence, and exhortation. He was personally involved, guiding and weaving together the early church, supporting believers in their spiritual growth.

That same encouragement is still happening in national churches today.

This is the part I want to focus on — what it means to live in the fear of the Lord. Around the world, I see three ways people interpret this:

1. Superstitious Fear

This kind of fear comes from ignorance. People know there’s a powerful God out there, but they don’t understand Him. They’re terrified, trembling before the unknown, because they have no Bible or clear teaching. Many try to ​“lessen the threat” by following rituals or traditions. It’s all based on fear of being crushed by a higher power — stemming from animism, false religion, and passed-down myths.

2. Servant or Slave Fear

In some religions, God is viewed as a harsh master. People live in fear of punishment. They see themselves as helpless employees under a cruel boss, following rules blindly just to avoid being beaten. There’s no love, no intimacy — only obligation and fear of getting it wrong.

3. Biblical, Reverent Fear (Filial Relationship)

This is the true, biblical perspective. The fear of the Lord isn’t about being scared — it’s about reverence, like a child honouring their loving parent. It’s based on relationship, not performance. We don’t want to offend our Father, not because He’ll punish us, but because we love Him.

This kind of fear produces a desire to please God — revering His holiness, submitting to His will, and walking in trust. It’s the indwelling Holy Spirit producing godly character in us, drawing us toward a Father who loves us deeply. This is what sets the Gospel apart from every other religion.

Romans 3:10 – 18 – The Contrast

In Romans 3, Paul describes the opposite of that relationship:

“There is no one righteous, not even one… Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness… There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

This is the state of someone outside that loving relationship. No reverence. No awe. Just rebellion.

Some theological teaching has wrongly emphasized a punitive fear of God. I even grew up around that kind of thinking. The message was: ​“Be good, or God will get you.” But that’s not how Scripture describes life in Christ. Romans 8:1 says, ​“There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

What Biblical Fear Produces

Here’s a quote I read recently that sums up this idea beautifully:

A follower of Jesus dreads God’s displeasure, desires His favour, reveres His holiness, submits cheerfully to His will, is grateful for His benefits, sincerely worships Him, and conscientiously obeys His commandments.

That’s what biblical fear looks like. It’s not dread of punishment — it’s honour, trust, and love.

How This Applies to Global Revival

So how does this connect to what we’re seeing in missions and revivals worldwide?

In manmade religions, fear is used to control people. Followers are constantly trying to appease an angry god through sacrifices, rituals, or acts of devotion — just to avoid harm.

But the Gospel redefines fear. When national believers meet Jesus, they’re set free from that dread. Suddenly, they’re filled with peace, joy, and confidence. They no longer fear being crushed — they’re embraced by the Father.

One pastor in Southeast Asia put it like this when I asked him what makes believers different:

“Our love affair with God. Our respect for God. We’re not walking every day in fear anymore. We don’t need to light a candle or bring fruit to a temple to keep from being hurt. That fear is gone. Now, we live in confidence.”

He went on to say, ​“There’s nothing more powerful we can tell an unbeliever than this: God is not out to get you. He’s out to love you.”

That’s the difference. And it’s contagious. That’s why the church is growing around the world.

Back to Acts 9:31

Let me read that verse again:

“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers.”

That’s what we’re seeing today — around the world, believers are living in joyful reverence and Spirit-filled encouragement. And the church continues to grow.

Because Jesus is like no other God. And He’s replacing fear with love.