Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women:
3 sermons cite this verse
… And then verse 14 says, And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and of women. So a respected church repels and attracts at the same time. If we try to please everybody, we'll please the devil most of all. Now, it was also a revolutionary church, an early church. They weren't out to enjoy the world. They were out to change the world. And the early church had a head-on collision with the Roman Empire. And it was said of them that they turned the world upside down. They were not middle of the rotors. They were not moderate about the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and other things. But not only was it, uh, rigid and respected and revolutionary, but it was a responsive church. They were not just occupying pews, thinking they'd done God a favor when they come and listen to a sermon. they were always at it, and they were all at it. We have raised in America today a generation of spectator Christians. …
… Now look, if you will, in chapter 5 and verse 14. And believers were the more added to the Lord. He stopped counting now, and he's just saying, multitudes, multitudes of men and women. Thank God for that. Now go back to chapter 6 and verse 1 where we started. And in those days when the number of disciples was multiplied. Now, question, was this a growing church or not? It was a growing church. If you're not interested in church growth, There's nothing wrong with you that an old-fashioned revival or a good dose of salvation wouldn't cure. Now, folks, we're talking about bringing lost souls to Christ. And God's command to the church is to be fruitful and multiply. So here it is, where there's life, there's growth. Secondly, where there is growth, there are problems. There are problems. When God wants to multiply, the devil wants to divide. So now look, if you will, in chapter 6, verse 1, and in those days when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring. …
12. But how soon did “the mystery of iniquity” work again, and obscure the glorious prospect! It began to work (not openly indeed, but covertly) in two of the Christians, Ananias and Sapphira. “They sold their possession,” like the rest, and probably for the same motive; but afterwards, giving place to the devil, and reasoning with flesh and blood, they “kept back part of the price.” See the first Christians, that “made shipwreck of faith and a good conscience;” the first that “drew back to perdition;” instead of continuing to “believe to the” final “salvation of the soul!” Mark the first plague which infected the Christian Church; namely, the love of money! And will it not be the grand plague in all generations, whenever God shall revive the same work? O ye believers in Christ, take warning! Whether you are yet but little children, or young men that are strong in the faith, see the snare; your snare in particular, — that which you will be peculiarly exposed to after you have escaped from gross pollutions. “Love not the world, neither the things of the world! If any man love the world,” whatever he was in times past, “the love of the Father is not” now “in him!” 13. However, this plague was stayed in the first Christian Church, by instantly cutting off the infected persons. By that signal judgment of God on the first offenders, “great fear came upon all;” (Acts 5:11; ) so that, for the present at least, not one dared to follow their example. Meantime believers, men full of faith and love, who rejoiced to have all things in common, “were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” (Acts 5:14.) …