16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. Acts 16:1-5

There’s that word again: Daily. They grew in number daily. Fantastic things were happening and people’s lives were being changed.

Daily.

The Holy Spirit was moving greatly in order for the church to grow daily.

Church historians and church growth experts dig into these Scriptures to try to replicate what the original disciples did. The answer is much easier than they want to admit. The Holy Spirit was moving. Without that fact, the church remains stagnant. People were praying and God was moving. Of course the fields were ripe unto harvest because the Messiah had been in their midst.

Sovereign moves of God are just that. They can’t be manufactured or reproduced. God moves freely when He is permitted to and when hearts are tender.

Pray for the church you attend. Pray for the Pastor and his wife. Pray for the leadership. Pray for parishioners by name.