Real Life Community Church Richmond, KY
Real Life Community Church, is a church located in Richmond, Kentucky. Our fellowship is comprised of authentic followers of Jesus Christ who aim to glorify God in all that we do. We have a desire to reach our community, meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of those who are hurting.What to Expect in a Service Our Sunday Morning services include a time of dynamic, blended worship. We have a full praise band, consisting of real Christ-followers who are committed to worshiping God, not just through song, but in every area of their lives. Each service will include a relevant, Bible-based message, that will inspire and challenge those who hear it. Come casually or formally dressed… however you are most comfortable. We hope to see you soon!
Real Life Community Church Richmond, KY
Acts | Part 3 | The Unit of the Early Church
Discover the transformative power of "unity without uniformity" through this study of the Apostles' journey after Jesus' ascension. Through this message, Pastor Chris stresses the early church's resolve to embrace unity without erasing cultural identities.
Learn why gathering as a church community holds profound importance in our faith journeys, challenging the modern trend of practicing faith in isolation. This is a call to move beyond past betrayals and focus on the collective rewards of unity and prayer, just as the early disciples did in the shadow of Judas Iscariot's actions.
Listen, to uncover how aligning our hearts with Christ fosters genuine harmony among believers. Like pianos tuned to the same tuning fork, we're reminded that true unity arises not by focusing on each other but by each person turning towards Christ. This sermon is a heartfelt invitation to seek higher standards in our spiritual lives, ensuring that in serving Him, unity naturally follows.
I am in Acts, chapter 1, beginning at verse 12. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath journey away, and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room where they were staying. Upper room where they were staying, peter and John, james and Andrew Philip and Thomas Bartholomew and Matthew, james, the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the zealot, and Judas, the son of James All these were with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. In those days, peter stood up among the brothers the company of persons was in all about 120 and said Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus, but he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry. Now this man acquired a field, with the reward of his wickedness and, falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out, and it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language, akadama, that is filled of blood, for it is written in the book of Psalms. May his camp become desolate and let there be no one to dwell in it and let another take his office, verse 21,. So one of the men who had accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us, one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection. And they put forward to Joseph Bar-Sabbas and Justice also Bar-Sabbas, who was also called Justice, and Matthias, and they prayed and said Lord, you know, the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place, and they cast lots for them and a lot fell on Matthias and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Speaker 1:Acts, chapter 2, verse 1. When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place and suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a rushing, mighty wind and it filled the entire house where they were sitting and divided tongues as a fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven, and at this sound the multitude came together and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language and they were amazed and astonished, saying Are not all these who are speaking Galileans, and how is it that we hear each of us in his own native language?
Speaker 1:Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, judea and Cappadocia, pontus and Asia, persia and Pamphylia, egypt and the parts of Libya belong to Cyrene and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, cretans and Arabians. We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God and all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another what does this mean? But others, mocking, said they are filled with new wine. God bless the reading of his word. You can be seated. Thanks be to God.
Speaker 2:I had Ron read the text today, so I didn't have to pronounce all those names. I'm not texting. By the way, it takes me a minute to switch from singing to preaching, so bear with me. Well, praise the Lord, everybody. All right, so here we go. Well, the gospel you've heard me say this before.
Speaker 2:The gospel calls us, the people of God, to unity without uniformity. Let me just unpack that for you when you become a Christian, you do not lose your cultural distinctives, all of your personality, like maybe some of your personality some of you has chipped away. You know you're sanctified a bit, but, in other words, what I'm saying is you don't lose the uniqueness that makes you you. We don't become spiritual robots. We still have different preferences, different ideas, different passions, different skills. Is different passions, different skills. However, though, we are not called to uniformity. We are called, as believers, to walk in unity, and the way that that works is this biblically, remember, paul said I've been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who live, but what Christ who lives in me. So, though, we are different people with different preferences and unique people with unique personalities and unique giftings, in the church we come together with our highest aim being to serve Christ, to glorify God and to proclaim the gospel to all nations, and in that sense we are unified by doctrine and by Christ. Amen. The Bible calls us to unity.
Speaker 2:Unity is a very important theme throughout the Bible. In Psalm 133.1, the psalmist writes Behold how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity. Let me read you 1 Corinthians 1.10. When the apostle Paul writes these words, I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree how you doing and that there be no divisions among you. Do you know? Divisions in the church break the heart of God, and here's what he says. He says but that you be united in the same mind and in the same judgment. Ephesians 4.3,. I'll give you one more Make every effort, to quote maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Make every effort Strive for, in other words, unity. So, in our text today and, by the way, I want you to know, because I know many of you are chomping at the bit for this I will address tongues today. Okay, we're going to get there, but the main theme of the message today and tongues actually falls into this theme is the theme of unity. And in these first chapters of the book of Acts we see this theme of unity and the importance of it very, very clearly. So I want to point out in our text three facets of unity. Are you with me? So number one the early church was united in, if you're taking notes, proximity. The early church was united in proximity.
Speaker 2:Look with me at Acts, chapter 1, verses 12 and 13. So the ascension of Jesus has just happened, happened. And the 11 disciples, so the 12, midas, judas, iscariot, it says, they returned to jerusalem from the mount called all of it, which is near jerusalem, a sabbath day journey away. And when they had entered they, they went up to the upper room where they were staying Peter and John, james and Andrew, philip and Thomas Bartholomew, matthew James, the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas, not Judas Iscariot, but Judas, the son of James.
Speaker 2:So you remember, in Acts 1, verses 4 and 5, remember Jesus, right before his ascension, he's given kind of, his final instructions to the disciples and he said I'm sending you out on missions and you will. In verse 8, you're going to be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. But remember what he said in verses four and five. He says I know you're ready to get out there and go, but wait. Wait, because wait on the promise of the Father, which is the baptism with or in the Holy Spirit. Wait, and what I love about this, the disciples obey and they do wait, but they don't go off to their own places. They wait together. They seek God together. How many know we are better together, amen. They wait together and they join with 109 other men and women of God in the upper room and together they seek the Lord and they wait on the promise of the Father. What we have right here immediately Jesus ascends to heaven and we have the first church service, right, I mean, it happens straight away. So what you're doing today is, by the way, extremely important.
Speaker 2:The early church was committed to worshiping together, to fellowshipping together. Go read later, acts 2.42. I'll be preaching on that, God willing, in a couple of weeks. So my point is this church community was very important to the early church. Would you agree with that, do you know? And this is such an anomaly because this is not the case throughout church history, but in the you know kind of this post-modern age, do you know that there has been a great decline in church attendance by professing christ?
Speaker 2:You probably know people who say, well, I love Jesus, but I don't go to church. Can I just say this that's stupid. That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard and one of the most unscriptural things I've ever heard. So watch this. Why would people devalue church? Right, like why would they say, well, I'm a Christian, but that church thing is just not for me the top reason statistically, you know what it is. It's what we call autonomy and what that is. It's autonomy is the right or the condition to self-government. And boy, americans love this, don't we? Nobody telling me what to do. Man, I have complete freedom to live like I want to live, and the Western mantra is simply leave me alone, let me do me right, let me be me, as long as I'm not hurting somebody else. I want to do it my way. It's like Burger King church, right, I want it my way. Church right, I want it my way.
Speaker 2:The Pew Research Center they ended up doing a survey and they surveyed many Christians, or people who claim to be Christians, who don't regularly go to church, and the top reason given for that decision is quote that they practice their faith in their own way, end quote. Can I just be honest with you? That's stupid. The Christian life is to be practiced Christ's way. Listen, right before our text. What does Jesus do? He ascends to where yeah, where the right hand of the Father. Right, it's a place of authority. The whole point of the gospel is Jesus, through his death, burial and resurrection and ascension, became king. Jesus is king. So newsflash Christian. If Jesus is king of his kingdom, that means you are not. You're not the king of your life, and so you don't get to practice Christianity your way. You practice it Jesus way or you don't practice it.
Speaker 2:Hebrews, chapter 10, verse 24 and 25, says let us consider how to stir brothers and sisters one another up to good works and love, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but here's what he says but encouraging one another, and all the more as the day of the Lord draws near. What's the day of the Lord? It's the return of the Lord, jesus Christ. Right, so we shouldn't have a decline in church attendance. I don't know when the Lord's coming back, but I know it's closer than it was yesterday, which means we ought to meet more this week than we did last week. It isn't about just giving God an hour every week. This is about living life together. So let me just say it like this when you become a Christian, you give up your autonomy.
Speaker 2:Now I want to just mention very quickly another reason and I want to be more sympathetic to this reason that some people don't come to church, and it's because of previous church hurts. For those of you who've grown up in church, how many of you ever been hurt in church? Okay, you're looking at a person right here. As a pastor, I cut my teeth on the church pews. I've been in the church since nursery and I've been a pastor for well over 20 years, and you know how I'm going to die. It's going to be death by a thousand cuts because church people through the years have hurt me and hurt me and hurt me People I'd die for. And, by the way, just to be fair, I'm human and I've hurt others too, and so when you build a relationship with somebody I don't care if it's family, co-workers, friends the closer you are, the more risk there is of being hurt.
Speaker 2:You know what I love about our text. You know one of the main reasons for the apostles meeting in the upper room yes, they're waiting on the promise of the Father, but they're also replacing Judas Iscariot, this co-disciple of theirs who betrayed the Messiah, their leader. And what did he do? He took his own life. Now here's what I love.
Speaker 2:Think about this Judas didn't just hurt Jesus, he hurt every one of those guys. Imagine. They've been with him three and a half years. They have done miracles together. They have sat at the feet of Jesus together. They have broken bread together. They have been witnesses to his death. They've seen him pour out his life and his compassion. And here's this man, who man? They had locked arms for three and a half years and for 30 pieces of silver he sells out the Messiah and betrays every one of them. But watch this they still meet together and they still are overjoyed. You know why? Because their eyes weren't on Judas, they were on Jesus. And I'm so sorry that some of you have been hurt by church. But listen, keep your eyes on Jesus.
Speaker 2:And let me say this there is a risk today you being here in building relationships. Some people, they come to church but they come in late and go out early because they don't want to get in the mess of community, and that's really tragic because there is risk. But let me just say it like this the reward is immensely greater than the risk. I'll be vulnerable time and time again in order to be in a relationship, deep relationship, with other believers. So, point number one, I got to move on. They were together in proximity. Secondly, they were united in prayer.
Speaker 2:You know, personal prayer is really important, isn't it? We know that Jesus got alone to pray. We talk about having a prayer life all of the time, every day. I believe you ought to have time committed to the Lord without your phone. I mean where you're bowing at your bedside or by your couch or sitting on the sofa or whatever, with your Bible only in hand and saying Lord, this time is yours, and you read his word and you pray Jesus, remember in Matthew 6, he told his disciples when you pray, don't be like the hypocrites do, or who stand on the street corners and want to be heard with their many words, using all these theological terms.
Speaker 2:He says don't be like them. They want the applause of men. He says go into the secret place where nobody sees you except God. And God who sees you in secret will reward you. He'll reward you. So private prayer is important, but in that text Jesus is not forbidding corporate prayer. What he's warning against is false motives. So here's the test Don't do in public what you're not willing to do in private. Boy, that's good right there. Don't do in public what you're not willing to do in private. In other words and I can tell the people who pray here that don't pray at home, I can tell it's a struggle for them to pray here because they're not used to it, they're not in the habit of it. So if the only place you pray is at church, maybe you ought to better look at your prayer life and your motives. Are you with me? They were together in prayer. Now this is really, really interesting.
Speaker 2:There are just prayer meetings throughout the book of Acts. Okay, let me just got to go through these quickly. So, acts 1 and 2, they're praying for direction to fill the apostolic seat left vacant by Judas. In Acts 4, they have a prayer meeting for courage and boldness. Chapter 12, they pray for deliverance and suffering. Chapter 13, they pray for wisdom in ministry. Chapter 16, they pray in such a way that results in the church spreading throughout Macedonia. And in chapter 20, they pray together with lament because Paul is saying kind of his goodbyes to the people he loved.
Speaker 2:Do you know that nearly all historical accounts of revivals are considered to be birthed by prayer? You know we want revival, but are we willing to pray? By the way, you know what I think at this church, the greatest victory of 2024 was. I think it's our prayer meetings on Wednesday nights. It used to be years before that, for my first nine years here, if we had a potluck you've heard me say this standing room only, but you had a prayer meeting If we had literally five people here, it was a good prayer meeting and our Wednesday night services have grown. We've committed them to prayer and praise and it's just been awesome. So if you haven't come, I'm not here to chastise you, I just want to invite you and I want to say thank you to those of you who have made Wednesday nights a priority.
Speaker 2:All right, so the early church was united in proximity and prayer. Number three they are united in purpose. Purpose, you know again, the agenda item in the upper room, besides waiting for the Spirit, is we need to replace this apostolic seat. There's two basic qualifications that we see Look at verses 21 and 22 for the next apostle, so one of the men who have accompanied us. So they're saying the seat of Judas has to be filled. So we're picking one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us. One of these men must become with us a witness to the resurrection of Jesus.
Speaker 2:Now here's a side note. This is a debate Are there still this is in your study notes but are there still capital A apostles today? Well, are there people who were with Jesus from John the Baptist ministry until his ascension and also have witnessed his resurrection? No, guys, if there's anything I can warn you. When somebody calls themselves apostles, so-and-so and that's real common today in the charismatic church just say I'm good and kind of walk away.
Speaker 2:But here's the thing I do believe the apostolic office is still there, but it's not the capital A apostle. You you know what the word Apostle in the Greek means Sent one. You know what we call those in the contemporary church Missionaries, pastor Ben and Dina, missionaries to EKU, we can call you Apostle Ben. All right, it's a cool thing, right, ken and Keith? You know parish and you know overseas they're in apostolic ministry taking the gospel into new places. So just be careful. You know this apostle so-and-so what, the way that's been taken in the charismatic churches they're you know you got to do everything they say they're like up here, it's a hierarchy. Do everything they say they're like up here, it's a hierarchy. It's not what apostolic ministry is today. So that's free. There you go. All right. So they were together in purpose. So here's the thing, here's the qualifications. And Peter says all right, we've got two candidates that meet these qualifications. You've got Joseph also called Justice, and you've got Matthias or Matthias called Justice, and you've got Matthias or Matthias. All right.
Speaker 2:Now here's what I love. We just went through an election. You remember How'd that go? Right, like I mean, it's pretty charged right. And some of you, like I see some high schoolers here like even voting for a school president. You wear your Vote for Pedro t-shirts and all that, like I know, all right, some of you are like Wonder World, others of you you're my friends, all right, because you get the reference.
Speaker 2:There's all kinds of campaigning going on, because we all have our preference right. We know so-and-so better, or we like their stance better, so on and so forth, know so-and-so better, or we like their stance better, so on and so forth. And no doubt there's 120 people in the upper room here and you think some probably like justice a little better than Matthias and some probably like Matthias a little bit better than justice. But here's what I love In Acts, chapter 1, they're so focused on Jesus. They're not trying to push their candidate. Watch what they do. Look at 24 through 26. And they prayed. And here's what they said Lord, you know the hearts of all, show us which one of these two you have chosen. I love that To take place in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place and they cast lots and Proverbs talks about the Lord being behind that.
Speaker 2:It's like rolling dice. But we don't do that today and this is the very last time it's done in Scripture. Why? Because we don't need to do that, because we have the leading of the Holy Spirit, the indwelling of the Spirit, amen, all right. So there it is. You get what I'm saying. They're not about their preferences, they're together in purpose. And how are they together in purpose? Because they all want Jesus leading for the church. Right, it's about Jesus' purpose, not really about ours.
Speaker 2:You know people tell me now well, you got to have vision, you got to ask the, you know, find out where you want to go and bring it. You got to have a vision statement, mission statement, okay, but here's my vision statement. It's to do what Jesus asked me to do. It's about him, not me coming up with some clever saying. It's about reaching people. It's about loving God with all of our hearts and neighbor's self and taking the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. That's the purpose. Amen, all right. So they're in unity, by proximity, by prayer and also in purpose. So here it is. We're going to Acts 2 now, All right, and I'm going to try not to preach 55 minutes today, but I promised you we'd go here, so here we go.
Speaker 2:What are the results of unity? So let's look first at verses 1 and 2 of chapter 2. And when the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. This is a Jewish festival, 50 days after Passover. The word literally means Pentecost means 50. So from Passover you have seven weeks. How many days are in a week? Seven? What's seven times seven oh, you're smart. And what's 49 plus one day, 50. So the day after seven weeks you have this festival of Pentecost.
Speaker 2:And I've got a lot more information about Pentecost in your study notes. There's a lot I could say, but that's not the point today. But it's worth checking out, so what we see first. So Pentecost had arrived, they were all together. Do you see it again? Unity, all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind and it filled the entire house when they were sitting.
Speaker 2:Okay, so they're together, they're in one accord and Christian unity results in this manifest presence of God. So, number one it results. Unity results in God's presence. It says that there's this rushing mighty wind, a sound as a rushing mighty wind, and in the Greek and also the Hebrew word for this many of you know this the word wind also is translated breath. This is the breath of God that was breathed into Adam. It's the life-giving breath of God's spirit, it's his manifest presence, and I know, friends, that God is omnipresent. You can experience the presence of God in your car, at home, even Walmart sometimes. Listen, miracles happen. So you can experience the presence of God alone. But I'm telling you there's something special that happens when we come together Amen, he is with us in a special and particular way, and this outpouring happened because they were all together in one place. All right, christian unity results in God's presence, but it also results in his power. Results in His power.
Speaker 2:Look at now the verses you were all waiting for 3 and 4. And divided tongues, as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to do what Speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. All right, let's pray. No, I'm just joking. I told you I'd mention it, right? No? So what is this all about? God's power, this is what I want you to see. No, so what is this all about? God's power? This is what I want you to see. God's power is manifested as a result of their unity in seeking God together. All right, so let me just give you some observations.
Speaker 2:Let's talk about this highly interesting and highly debated gift of tongues. So, number one, I want you to, and you can jot this down in your Bible the word tongues could be better translated as the word languages, that's all it means. Speaking in tongues sounds a little more mystical and weird than just speaking in languages. So doesn't this sound better to say, hey, god gave me the ability to speak in other languages than other tongues? So either word works, but just wanted to point that out.
Speaker 2:Now, remember, this is Pentecost, this Jewish festival, and the beauty of this is that Jewish pilgrims that were scattered all throughout Palestine and even outside the Palestinian area would be gathered in Jerusalem. I mean, there are multitudes of Jews there and remember, the gospel is to start in Jerusalem and this is happening. So this is brilliant that the Spirit is poured out at Pentecost. The Jews, you know, they heard I won't read this whole text, but in verses 5 through 8, you have these Jews from different regions and they all hear these 120 in the upper room speaking in their own native tongues were languages that those in the upper room they know could have never learned. So most of the Jewish pilgrims almost all, if not all of them would have spoken as a second language Greek. But then they all were scattered throughout the ancient world and they all had also a native tongue or different dialects, and so they were hearing those in the upper room shouting out proclaiming praises to God in their own languages. Now, do you know that this is still a gift? That happens today.
Speaker 2:Listen, I've got three accounts of friends that I'm very close to where this exact same thing has happened. Okay, one of them you remember Master's Voice, ricky Capps, the lead singer, who's been here several times. He's an independent fundamental Baptist which, generally speaking, those people do not believe in the gifts of the Spirit. And he said, chris, he told me the last time he was here I was in a church service and somebody spoke in tongues and it was the native tongue of this other person there and he said it was amazing. But let me share another one with you.
Speaker 2:So there's a guy in our church. Some of you may know him. His name is Kent Sullivan and he's a retired pastor and he came here. He and his wife, emily Emily, sang on the praise team for a while. Well, he got kind of a part-time pastorship in Irvin, so he's there now, but he still comes to my small group. I'm very, very close to him and he's not overly mystical and all of this. But let me say this I trust him completely. So he knew I was preaching on this subject this week. So let me read you a text message he sent me.
Speaker 2:He said a true story related to your message about tongues that I witnessed. So this is him personally. He said Mike Shreve, another pastor, and I were preaching outside of a high school in Asheville, tennessee, to a large crowd of high school students. Mike suddenly spoke a loud message in tongues that echoed across the crowd. Listen, it's so cool.
Speaker 2:A female exchange student from Portugal, from far across the the field, came running up to Mike excitedly saying to Mike how did you know that language? And Mike said what language? And she said you were speaking in an ancient dialect of Portuguese that's not even any longer used. You were praising Jesus Christ in that ancient dialect of Portuguese. And Kent said it was a powerful witness to her of the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ. How amazing is that?
Speaker 2:You know there are two different responses in our text to this speaking in other languages or speaking in tongues. Look at verse 12 in chapter 2. And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another what does this mean? So the first group of people were curious Some of you today who maybe haven't experienced this, you're curious. But there's another group. In verse 13, it says but others, mocking, said they are filled with new wine. They're drunk. These people are out of their mind. And do you know there are still those two groups of people today.
Speaker 2:There are the curious, but there are also, unfortunately, the critical. You know there are some pastors, prominent pastors, that have all, but actually they may have even said this right out, but at least they heavily imply that speaking in tongues today is of the devil. Do you know what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is? Do you remember what it was when we went through Matthew? It's when Jesus was casting out demons and the Pharisees said you're doing this by the power of Satan. He says you've blasphemed the Holy Spirit. So you know what this is. Blasphemy is when you call something of God. You give credit to the devil for something that God did. You give credit to the devil for something that God did. So I hope today this might not be for you. Like you may say, you know what. This is something I'm just not sure about. That's okay, it's okay. You could be curious and say you know what? I think it's maybe abused sometimes. I've seen it. It seems kind of weird, but I am really curious as to what it is. That's fine. Ask questions, even have doubts, if you want. But I just say guard from being critical, are you with me? Okay?
Speaker 2:Next point is this observation the gift of tongues is vertical. This is something I was reminded about. It's vertical. In verse 11, the second part, the crowd says we were hearing them, the ones speaking in tongues, in our own tongues, declaring the mighty works of God. The tongues were not directed at the people listening. This was not the preaching of the gospel. That happens after this. Peter stands up and preaches the gospel. What were they doing in other languages? They were extolling God, and that's the pattern every time we see tongues in the Bible.
Speaker 2:So in chapter 10, spirits pour down on the Gentiles. They speak in tongues In verse 46, for they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God or magnifying God. 1 Corinthians 14, 2. For one who speaks in tongues speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the spirit. So probably step on some toes here.
Speaker 2:But when there is tongues and interpretation, the interpretation and I've missed this, I was reminded of this even with the last tongue and interpretation we had I believe clearly in Scripture that the interpretation should be a praise of God. It's not an interpretation of God speaking to us. Okay, you study that out for yourself. People who agree with me or disagree with me, that's fine. They've been wrong before, won't be the last time. No, really, we can disagree here, but I think it's really clear.
Speaker 2:And this is so cool because think about this in your prayer life. Have you ever read the scriptures? And, like you, are just so determined to pray to God and you want to magnify him, but don't words fall short of the glory and the beauty of God? And it's in those moments that the Holy Spirit takes over. And, by the way, god, and it's in those moments that the Holy Spirit takes over, and, by the way, the Holy Spirit doesn't possess us and speak out like. The Holy Spirit puts these words in our hearts and we speak them out by faith, but you begin praying in another language, whether it's a human language or the Bible talks about there's debate over this but a heavenly language, whatever it is, it's wonderful because the Holy Spirit, through us, can express things about God that the English language cannot, and it's a beautiful thing. So let me just say this is a beautiful, beautiful gift. All right. Now, here's how I want to tie this in. One more observation, and we'll be done. Here's how I want to tie it into unity will be done. Here's how I want to tie it into unity. Here's how I want to tie it into unity. The miracle of tongues at Pentecost was a unifying experience. This is amazing.
Speaker 2:The story of the book of Acts you know really what it is. It's about how God would fulfill his covenant and his promise to extend his kingdom and salvation not just to Israel but to all the world. So in the Old Testament, you remember I think it's Genesis, chapter 12. God makes a covenant with Abraham and he promises him that, through Abraham and his family, not just Israel but all the nations would be blessed. Now that promise watch this. That promise comes right after chapter 11, which is kind of a crazy story, where there's a tower being built in Babel and the people are arrogantly trying to make God irrelevant and they're building this tower. We can reach the heavens on our own, and you know what God does in judgment. What's he do? He confuses their languages and the people scattered and they become divided. It's a curse, it's a judgment. Do you know what Pentecost is? It is a reversal of the Tower of Babel.
Speaker 2:Everybody is hearing and understanding the same words in their own languages. God is reminding them. God just said the gospel is going out to Jerusalem, judea, samaria, other parts of the earth, and then the next sign is God bringing these languages together to remind us that we are one people. Right, it's not Hispanic Christians and Caucasian Christians and African American Christians and Indonesian Christians. We're just Christians and we are part of the same family. All right, we ought to treat each other like this, right? Sure, we have cultural distinctions, but we're all part of the family of God and it's the gospel that unites us. I'm not a Christian nationalist because, as much as I love America and I'm a huge patriot, it's not about America, it's about the whole of the world. Amen, amen. It's not about America, it's about the whole of the world, amen.
Speaker 2:Pentecost was a unifying experience, which brings me to this point. The gift of tongues should never be used to divide us, and often it is, and that's nothing new, because, you know, in the book of 1 Corinthians, paul is writing to these believers at Corinth, and you know that the gift of tongues was used, like it is today, to divide rather than to unite. Let me just give you quickly two ways that tongues can be divisive. Tongues are divisive number one when those who have that particular gift look down upon those who do not. When I first came to this church, I had my dear secretary, a lady I love very much, miss her very much, darlene. This lady loved God and served God with all of her heart, but she was made by some. They don't go to this church anymore, but she was made and pressured to speak in tongues and I remember her crying and going why would God not give me this gift? And that's what was happening in Corinth, because they were saying I speak in tongues, you don't, guys.
Speaker 2:So you know what Paul does in 1 Corinthians 12? He says he has some rhetorical questions Do all speak in tongues, do all prophesy, do all have gifts of healing, do all have the working of miracles, and he goes on and on. And what's the obvious answer? No. We're a body with many parts and God hasn't given us all the same gift. He gives us different gifts and that's what makes the body of Christ beautiful, and you know this. Let me just say this the gift of tongues is a beautiful and wonderful gift and it's been a part of my life and my prayer life for about 20 years now. I'm grateful for it. Do you know that?
Speaker 2:Paul says, though, that it's one of the lesser gifts. He says don't forbid it. He said I wish you all spoke in tongues. But he said if you're going to long for a gift, he said I'd rather you speak. Five words of prophecy. See, prophecy within the church is horizontal. The Spirit speaks through me to someone else or a group of people. The gift of tongues is vertical. I just want you to know.
Speaker 2:If you don't speak in tongues, the Bible says earnestly desire spiritual gifts. So, man, ask the Lord today if that's a gift you'd like, there's nothing wrong. I've heard pastors say well, you should never ask for that. Why? Paul says to. But he says so seek spiritual gifts, but especially that you prophesy. I had a word of prophecy given me by somebody that I don't think has ever prophesied before last week. It was a confirmation of my heart. It's personal so I won't share it with you, but I'm grateful for all the gifts, amen.
Speaker 2:So tongues divides when people look down on those who don't speak in tongues and make them feel like second-class Christians. But there's one more way tongues divides in 1 Corinthians 14. And, by the way, this is in your study guide. I hope today and this week in your small groups and personal devotions, you'll read 1 Corinthians 12 through 14. And, by the way, this is in your study guide. I hope today you'll, and this week in your small groups and personal devotions, you'll read 1 Corinthians 12 through 14.
Speaker 2:But tongues divide within the context of the church when they're spoken without interpretation. Okay, and again, in all seriousness, I've got people who disagree with me on this, but again, I think the scripture is clear, but I could be wrong. Paul seems to say let me just read this to you 1 Corinthians 14, 27. If any speak in a tongue, let there only be two or at the most three, and each in turn. So how many of you ever been in a church I have where they say let's all speak in tongues, let's all pray in tongues. Yeah, take your head at me. Okay, maybe I'm reading this wrong, but Paul says let there be two or three at the most and let each in turn, so only one at a time, and let someone interpret.
Speaker 2:If there's no interpretation, here's what he says If there's no one to interpret, let each one keep silent in the church, which I take to mean. You know, we call it a prayer language. It's a beautiful gift, I have that, but that's to be used in private. If there's no interpretation, let him speak to himself and to God. So what happens when we come into church? You've heard me say this it is not me and God, it is we and God.
Speaker 2:And so many people today they want to come in and they want to be isolated in their own worship and you'll be individually blessed in church. But when we come together, it's about encouraging the whole body and edifying the whole body. But if you're speaking in a tongue that's not understood and not interpreted, you're leaving the rest of us behind. It becomes divisive and Paul goes on to say that if somebody's in here that's not a believer, he said they'll think you're out of your mind. And I've seen this happen. Saw a girl on the front row in a wednesday night service not here, at another church that I was a part of, and she literally booked it out of church because it was so it freaked her out all these people speaking in tongues and she just thought it sounded like chanting and she's going. What in in the world is this and it's sad because tongues is a beautiful gift. But Paul says, and Paul says don't forbid it, but do it decently and in order. So I'm not worried about what other churches do. This is the church God's called me to pastor.
Speaker 2:Let me just quickly tell you how tongues operate in this church, if there's ever a word in tongues. First of all, I would encourage you at this point to come and talk to our elders and say here's what I'm feeling, and it needs to be done by a member Okay, somebody. I don't want people speaking out who've never been in here, but it has to have interpretation. Been in here, but it has to have interpretation and if it doesn't, we'll gently kick you out. No, I'm just joking. We'll just gently say listen, there's no interpreter, but thank you for speaking out in faith. We don't want to chastise you if you're speaking, but now you know?
Speaker 2:But the Bible says if you speak in a tongue, there's nobody to interpret. He says pray, that you can have the interpretation. Isn't it interesting that everybody says they can speak in? All these people say they speak in tongues, but most of them say well, but I never know what the interpretation is. Why would God not be willing to give that to you. If he'll give you an unknown tongue, it just doesn't make sense. So it's a beautiful gift, but it's to be done decently and in order.
Speaker 2:So now let me give one caveat here. For those of you who make this a part of your life in worship, here's what I would say it's fine, I've done this just kind of under your breath in worship. If you feel so led to do that, okay, but just don't be a distraction to the people around you. That's all I would say. Is that fair? And again, I could be reading this all wrong, but I'm called to shepherd these people, you people and this church, and that's the way it's going to operate in this church. Fair, all right? Who's mad at me? Raise your hand? Okay, a few of you, all right, thank you guys. Love being honest, right? That's really funny. So, connor, if you'd come to the keys Guys, listen, I love this place, except for those of you that raised your hands. Praise team, you can call them coming up.
Speaker 2:So let me just take us back to unity Tongues. All this, guys, we got to be unified, which means, even when you are mad at me, that we're of one purpose and one mind, right. So how do we do this? How do we achieve unity? Aw Tozer, this is so good. Can I have your attention? Did I preach 55 minutes again Because it feels like it? Oh my goodness, what's wrong with me? It's good, all right.
Speaker 2:They said I could keep going. Aw Tozer said this has it ever occurred to you that 100 pianos all tuned to the same tuning fork are automatically tuned to one another? This is so good. They are of one accord by being tuned not to each other. You don't tune pianos to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow, namely the same tuning fork. So 100 worshipers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are, in heart, nearer to each other than they could possibly be, where they become quote, unquote, unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God and to each other oh, this is good. And to each other, oh, this is good.
Speaker 2:If we want unity, if we want unity, we don't sit here and try to converse and go. All right, what can we do to become more unified? You know what we do. We look, we tune ourselves to the Lord, jesus Christ, and if we're all seeking to serve him, we're going to be in unity.
Speaker 2:Isn't that beautiful? Oh, I love it. So let me give you just one to do to you. Isn't that beautiful? Oh, I love it. So let me give you just one to do Now hopefully this is assumed Look to Jesus and make sure you're aligned with him. But I would just say this If you have ought with your brother or sister in Christ, we call it the enemy within. This is how the enemy works. Attacks usually that hurt a church are not from out there. They're in here because of people who gossip and slander and have issue with a brother or sister in Christ and don't address it. So I would just say, for the sake of unity and the sake of the mission of Christ, if you have ought with your brother today, today or let's say this week, but today if possible, even as we sing today, go be reconciled.