Message 4 - The Church - A New Day

Acts 2:4 What are the "tongues" that are being described?

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SPEAKER_01 0:04

Good morning, everyone. Good to see you this morning. Uh, worship team really enjoyed the the uh songs that you let us in this morning. Good to see Gabby up there, new edition. You know, I think I'm back in if I don't know if you remember some of you here in the early days when it was Ron Willis and I switching off with the R guitar. We've come a long way since those days. Uh in fact, I got a I got an uh email this week, someone that had visited from out of state a while back and and just telling me how much they enjoyed the uh the the worship team and the worship music. Didn't say anything about the pastor, but they really enjoyed the uh speaking of uh uh beginnings. If you've ever been a part of a uh like a startup company or business or uh maybe the beginnings of a church, a lot of you were here as as uh in the early days of True North, even before we were true north, before we were uh even knowing what exactly God wanted uh us to do at that time. But uh if you've been a part of something like that, you know that in those early days uh it can be pretty interesting. Uh you're you're kind of moving and you're adjusting, you're trying things and then establishing what works, what doesn't work. Uh in the beginning, you do things that uh uh you later on will say, no, that's not that's not the right direction, that didn't work out, uh you don't do it later, and then and then finally you kind of settle in and get your groove and and uh things get set up. Maybe you know you start setting up some rules, employee manual. Uh I'll just say that in the beginning and of something like that, uh, lots of things are done differently. Uh later on, when you get more setup, more instituted, uh, you know, then then you kind of you kind of settle in on what you're how you think things are supposed to flow. Uh honestly, those early days can be exciting, uh, they can be challenging for sure. Uh you you kind of have to stay pliable. In fact, uh really we should always stay open to that if God wants to make change. Uh but you know the difference in, I guess, the start of a maybe a business uh uh is it's a lot it's kind of trial and error. And and what we're talking about right now in this this new series that we we've begun into, uh and we're in the book of Acts. You're gonna get there. We're uh in Acts chapter two today. We're talking about the early church as as it began. Uh and the things we're gonna look at the next couple of weeks, uh, different than maybe uh a business or in the beginnings even of a church where it's kind of trial on their. Uh it was but the things that they walked through were by design. Uh in fact, we're gonna see in a moment, they were prophesied uh hundreds of years before it ever started. Uh so they were by design, but they were different. Uh those were early days. Uh they were there were some things, I think, as as we're gonna walk through this that were done differently, uh, by purpose, by God. Uh as scripture put it in the beginning, there were some signs and wonders that would be used to kind of to verify that that what was happening that was actually from God. Uh and uh and I believe the indication was that was that those some of those things weren't gonna go on forever. They were just part of establishing the church uh in the open in those opening days, in those beginning days. Uh and the the problem with that is uh, and we're gonna kind of deal with these this the next couple weeks, some of those early things and the way God had Adam done, like I say, they were for the beginning. They were trying to establish, God was establishing that this was his will. But there were some parts of that that weren't, I believe, weren't meant to go on forever. They were just something that they would, God did in the beginning to get things rolling, and I believe the indication of scripture was then eventually they would stop. Uh but that has caused confusion uh over the centuries, since since the early days, the establishment, those beginning days of the church. Uh and so I want Acts chapter 2. I'm gonna delve in, we're gonna see some of this this morning, and as we're walking through, I just as I was studying myself, I thought we've got to walk through some of these, we've got to talk about some of this, uh, just because I know there is some confusion. Uh, and and even worse than that, uh, some of what we're gonna look at has caused division in the church, and that's uh the what Satan loves to use to uh get things going sideways. And so I want to make sure that you and I have had a chance to think these things through together. And uh and then I'll leave it as we walk through this. I'm gonna show you some things that I see. I'm gonna leave it up to you to make your own decisions uh uh regarding these. Uh I think one of the things we're gonna see is they shouldn't cause divisions, but they have, and uh so that's why I think I just want to make sure we understand. So, Acts chapter 2, and uh let me read uh verses 1 through 4. We read that a couple weeks ago, but let me read let me read it again. Uh Acts chapter 2, verse 1. When the day of Pentecost came, this is the first day, this is the beginning of the church. Uh, when the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Remember, they were told, Jesus said, after he had gone back up to heaven, go back to Jerusalem and wait. And he had told them in advance that this helper was coming, this counselor, the Holy Spirit was going to come, and they were supposed to go back and wait for that to take place. So that's what they're doing. They're they're in this house and they're waiting together. It's about a must be a pretty good sized room that they're in because there's about 120 of them, uh, we're told. Verse 3, they saw what seemed to be tongues. I'm sorry, I got said verse 2. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came down on the rest of each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. All right, so what I want us to do the next couple weeks is uh I'm gonna draw our attention to some of those early moments of the new church that's just beginning at this moment, uh, and some of the exciting things that took place in those early days. But also uh I want us to walk through together some things that have caused confusion. Uh, and then like I say, you make up your own mind, but I but I just want to to uh at least point you to some things that that I that uh God has uh I think helped me think through uh in uh as a as a believer because uh I you know I've had to think thing these things through as well. So we're gonna start back in verse 4, where it says, all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now this is a this is an amazing moment. Very, very, very exciting what's happening right there. And actually something that was promised uh over 500 years before. Uh later on, if you look over to uh verses uh uh let's see, actually verse here, I'm gonna find my spot. Verse 17. So this is the prophet Joel. He is this is a prophecy that is uh, like I say, around 500 years before this has taken place. And Joel said, uh starting in verse 17, in the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. And that's a new thing. Uh because what, and we've talked about this the last few weeks, in the Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit uh would come at appropriate times to help out. He uh the how the building of the tabernacle, the uh uh fastening of the uh the elements, the uh cups, the plates, the things that were used in the temple for worship. Uh when Saul first became king, the Holy Spirit came on him, gave him a real great wisdom, and just if you remember, he was pure really fearful in the beginning, and yet he became very courageous for a period of time, but then the Holy Spirit left him. Uh same with David. So we have this happening all in the Old Testament. But this is different. He says that in the last days, prophecy of Joel, I'm gonna pour my spirit on all people, uh, and not all people in reference to the, but all people who are followers of God, of the Christians, what we're seeing happening here. He says, your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see vision, some miraculous things are gonna happen. There's gonna be these signs and wonders that are going to uh uh demonstrate that this is a very exciting beginning. Uh even for safety, even on my servants, even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour my spirit in those days. There's not gonna be a uh uh division, poor rich, serving king. If if a person comes to Christ, the Holy Spirit's gonna come upon her. So, and you can read on down through there. But that's just Joel, 500 years before, saying, by under the inspiration of God, this is coming. This is gonna happen, and it's gonna be an exciting and very special, special moment. So, back to verse 4. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, what Joel was talking about, and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now, here's the problem uh some have taken this wonderful, this exciting movement moment and movement uh called the church, and this moment that Joel said was going to come to pass 500 years before it happened, the beginning of the church, this is the first day of this thing called the church, the church age, as we talked about uh uh a couple weeks ago as well. And they'd taken this moment that I think was uh was a temporary moment in some respects, we'll see, and made it into a standard or a norm, especially in regard to the way that the Holy Spirit works in believers. And and and part of that is true. Uh part of it is true. The fact that now, as never before in the history of the world, since creation, God the Spirit, the Holy Spirit comes into every individual who becomes a follower of God, every individual who accepts Christ as their savior, when that takes place, the Holy Spirit comes and lives within them. From that point on until they stand before, they go to heaven and stand before their heavenly father. And that's a and that has never taken place before. He started that day, it's true today. If you have invited Christ to be your Savior, God's Spirit lives in you. We talked about that a while back, and that's new, and that was and that's wonderful, and that's true. Uh but the the problem is the other part of this, of what's being said here. The part that describes the way in which the Holy Spirit came upon those early believers. Uh, in other words, out of this moment and the record of this moment, a conclusion has been drawn that when someone is indwelled with the Holy Spirit or filled with the Holy Spirit, now those are two different things. We're not going to talk about it this morning. We'll talk about it later. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, well, I will talk about it for a moment. Uh the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a permanent thing that's that happens every time a person becomes a when a person becomes a follower of Christ. The filling of the Holy Spirit is uh something that happens uh based on whether you and I decide on a day-to-day basis or hour-to-hour basis, I'm gonna let God be at the reins. He's gonna control. When when we say, when we when we allow God to guide us, that means we are filled with the Spirit. We're allowing Him to be in charge. He's always there. It's just we don't always let Him control. And uh so those are two different things, but the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit coming to live within you, you and I, and it's it's a permanent thing when you become a believer, he's in you now. But the conclusion that's been drawn is that when these things happen, uh it will always be accompanied by this thing called speaking in tongues. Uh and you may have been brought up in a church where that was a part of the assumption. Uh I was not, but that that really isn't the point. The the point and the question we got to ask ourselves is okay, does that line up with scripture? And and what I will tell you is that some say yes, it does. And and I I'm gonna we're gonna look at some scripture where where the thinking comes from, and it's not ridiculous. There, they I understand why they have drawn that conclusion, maybe why you have drawn that conclusion. I want to show us, at least have us look at the scripture where some of these thoughts come from and evaluate, okay, is that right? Or at least, or at least evaluate it, at least think, okay, I need to think this over. Uh uh first of all, let me deal with the question, and I think this is the easy one here, is uh what what are, when it talks about tongues, what in this passage in Acts 2, what's being referred to? What does it mean? And and that's not a hard answer to find. Look uh down to verses five and uh that's three, okay? Here's here it describes it for us. It says, now they were staying in Jerusalem, God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. They'd come back for a festival, one of their festivals where usually with people, the Jews would try to get back to Jerusalem so they could worship together. And and uh just kind of like even today, if you go over to Israel today, uh you will, the Israelites, uh the Jews that live in Jerusalem and in Israel in that area, they they come from a lot of different countries since 1948 when the when they are the land was given to the Jews and uh uh and they started, they established their their country, Jews started coming back. A lot of languages, uh, because they're from all kinds of countries. Uh they usually they come together and they they learn Hebrew, uh, most of them. And uh, well, this is when they come back at this time, they were also scattered. They've been scattered all over. So you had all these, they were all Jews here in Jerusalem, but they're they spoke different languages. So that's when this that's what's so remarkable about about what happens. Look at verse 6. Uh so the so they the God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven, when when they heard this sound, what sound? The sound of this, the Holy Spirit coming on those believers in the upper room. Uh, it was done, there was, it was an amazing moment, and every they heard all over the city. They heard, and they could tell where it was coming from. So they headed towards this this uh house. What's going on? What's what's the deal? They head towards the house. Uh verse 6, when they heard the sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment. Because, and so here out comes the disciples out of that house, and and they are amazed why? Uh, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked, aren't all of these men who are speaking Galileans? Uh Galileans. They they white, how they, and not only that, uh there were these were they are for fishermen. They these are were not learned and from their perspective, intelligent men. They wouldn't know other languages. Uh this is also it was amazing to them. It was all surprise. Then then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? And then that lists the languages there. So so what were the tongues at this moment? They were human languages. In fact, you probably have, if you look at verse 4, depending on your Bibles, some of your Bibles will have a little letter. And if you that letter, then if you look at the bottom of your page, you'll see find that letter again, or maybe in the center of your page. And if you look, it'll say human languages or languages. Why it was this to why it was translated to tongues, you have to ask the interpreters, the the translators, but but we're speaking here about human language, known human languages, on that day, anyway. Uh that that uh and that's what they were amazed about. Was they they could recognize the people were Galilean. Uh in fact, I I suspect they could what I my I think they I think the Galileans were speaking their native tongue, but the people were hearing their native tongue. And and it was it was like, wow. I I uh some of you uh someone recommended you knew to watch the the movie Great Awakening. So Marilyn and I rented it this week and we watched it. But it was one of those you ever had one of those where the sound is about four seconds off of the mouth? And I I kept the whole time we're watching this, I'm trying to do things to to never did, never did. We had to, you know, so so for but I suspect it's something like that. It's like they saw their lips, they could tell they were speaking in Galilean, but they heard their own tongue. And it's like, this is crazy, this is amazing. So we're answered this question, at least for this moment, that that what we're hearing or talking about with these tongues is human languages. But uh what has happened is that uh some have have zeroed in and grabbed on to this this moment and this this very special gift of the Holy Spirit, uh speaking in a human language that they did not actually take the time to learn, that God just gave them the miraculous ability to to suddenly do. And and they've taken this and they've elevated it to uh something that I don't think was meant at this moment by scripture uh or for us uh as believers, uh they've elegated this speaking in tongues as as a a uh uh in fact if you have heard it in the modern uh way that it's used, uh if you ever had that opportunity, you you probably heard something that didn't sound at all like a human language. Uh that's not the way it's used today. Uh in now I will say there have been places, uh evidences is in in other countries where missionaries have had something similar happen, where it's a language, and uh but most of the way that's used in in uh in our churches in modern days, it it's a language that you can tell it's not a human language, and you're saying, well, okay, why not? It was in Acts. What's going on? Well, what if you ask, well, you will be told is it's actually an angelic language, it's it's a language of angels. And you're thinking, oh, okay, where did that come from? Uh well I'm again I'm gonna say that it's not it's not something that they just made up, it's not ridiculous. Uh in fact, I I want us to see where where that idea of an angelic language comes from, and I want us to look at it in the context because I think that's part of the misunderstanding. So, so will you go with me? Let's go over, we're gonna leave Acts for a little bit, and I want you to go with me to 1 Corinthians 13. And probably some of you are hearing that, 1 Corinthians 13, and right away you're saying to yourself, oh, that's the love chapter. We we uh we hear a lot about that, love chapter, and uh you know, lots of times when we uh hear this uh 1 Corinthians 13 being read, it's in the context of a wedding. Uh and uh uh that's not that's uh that's it it isn't actually written in that context. Uh not a bad place to use it. It's a description. The reason that we call it the love chapter a lot of times is it is a description of God's love for us, how he loves us, uh in addition, agape love, we talk about agape love, but in addition, uh it is a uh a description of how God wants us to love each other. So so we're to model our love for each other after God. Uh and so uh now if you from past studies, and we've studied this before, you you might remember that this letter written by Paul to the church of Corinthians, he wrote it because there were a lot of problems in the church in the Corinthians. It was uh a church that was full of infighting, division, uh, and and just uh uh they they're they in fact we're gonna share in communion uh in a little bit. Their their communion, we won't go into it, but their communion uh they called it a love feast. It was anything but it was it was just a mess. Even the way they sh they celebrate communion. So there were a lot of things, and they were struggling and fighting. They fought over who was the best pastor, you know. And he says, some said Paul, who wrote the letter, some said Apollos, some bragged, well, I only listened to Jesus, you know. And it just, whatever they could find to fight over, they fought over. And one of the things they found to fight over was this spiritual gift of tongues. They elevated it to, well, I've spoken in tongues, and you haven't. So, you know, how so I'm I somehow, and so they've just made a mess of everything. So Paul, he's writing this letter to them and say, and basically saying, Man, you guys gotta, this is so wrong. And so we get to chapter 13, and he's describing this love uh and what it looks like, and he brings up in in this discussion the the gift of tongues. Look at chapter 13, uh verse 1. Here's what he writes. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. Now, notice, uh, first of all, here's the discussion. He's saying look, you know, suppose, okay, so so some of you have spoken in tongues, and some of you haven't. Big deal. You know, so if you've spoken in the tongues of men of men, which is the what showed up in Acts, but then he adds this, or of angels, we'll get back to that in a moment. Big deal. If you are not showing love, you're just making noise. Uh so that's first of all, that's to understand the context. Here's that's the big point he is making there, is that love is a bigger deal. Loving each other correctly is a bigger deal. And and all the way through scripture, Jesus said it, and it's especially in the New Testament, emphasizes the fact that love is so important because the way we love each other is the testimony to a lost world that there's something real in our relationship with God. So that's been a point that's made all through scripture, starting with Jesus, that how you love each other is so important. But here is where the the idea of the angelic tongue came into play. People say, see, it talks about this tongue, this language of angels, and and that's what when you in the church today, in church today, that are are really focused in on this gift, this is what you will almost always hear, is what they will call this language of angels. And and uh uh so you won't hear a human language, you'll hear a language of angels, and here's where, and they'll point and you'll say, well, where did that come from? Right here, right here in verse 1 of uh chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians. Here's what we need to think through. Uh I I want you to see something here, all right? Uh so uh what's going on here? What is Paul saying? Because what happens anytime we grab something and take it out of the context, that's where we get confused and that's where we make mistakes. So look at verse 2 and follow along here. He says, so in verse 2 he says, But if I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Okay, it's that same thing. He's saying, you know, if if you don't have love, you don't have nothing. But here's here's what I want you to see, because it'll give you, I think, insight, at least what we need to weigh over when we're thinking about what Paul is saying here. So what's what's Paul doing here? Okay, to and I think we need to understand this to understand the intent of the tongues of angels, statement that he makes. So here's let's let me talk us through this. So he says, let's say that someone has the gift of prophecy. That's a legitimate spiritual gift. The gift of prophecy, what is it? It is the ability to, by God's spiritual gift, tell the future. We read Joel. Joel had that spiritual gift. He told us about this day when the Holy Spirit would come upon people somewhere down the future and indwell all people, all Christians. So Paul's saying, so let's suppose someone has this gift of prophecy, legitimate gift. But let's suppose that along with the gift of prophecy, God gives to that individual all knowledge. In fact, so all knowledge to the point that there is no mystery for them. They understand it all. There's nothing that is not part of their knowledge, and that became and that God gives that as part of having the gift of prophecy. Paul says, let's suppose that's suppose that happens. If they don't have love, it's still nothing. Now, here's what I want you to grab on to. Is has that ever happened? Ever in the history of what we know about the spiritual gifts and the gift of prophecy, has there ever been someone given the gift of prophecy that along with it was given all knowledge of all things, even the mysteries? No. But that's not the point. The point what Paul is saying is if it even if he did, if that individual, if there was an individual like that that not only could tell the future, but knew everything. And and there was nothing that was a mystery to them. Even that was the case. There was an individual like that. If that person didn't have love, it'd be worthless. Because love's more important, it's more important than even having a gift like that. So that's his first illustration. He goes on. He says, let me give you another illustration. So let's suppose that a person has the gift of faith. And that's another legitimate gift, spiritual gift of faith. I talked to you some about uh George Mueller, just an amazing man uh a couple centuries back, had uh spiritual gift of faith. He one of the things he did, there's a lot in, but he started an uh orphanage. We've talked, it's called the Ashley Down Orphanage in Bristol. Uh, and he he took care of thousands of orphaned children. Some when he started that orphanage, God led him to make a commitment. And here's his commitment. He he before between him and God, he said, God, I will never ever ask for money. I'm gonna take care of thousands of orphans. I'm never gonna ask a single person for money. You're just gonna have to give it, God. And and he never did. And one of those amazing stories I've told about him is that uh one day uh he got up and the orphanage and they'd run out of all their food, and they didn't have any money. Uh, and and he uh he gathered the kids together, he set them down at the table, and he said, Children, we're gonna thank God for the food. There wasn't any food on the table, but he said, Let's pray. And they prayed, and he said, Lord, thank you uh for the food that you're gonna give us. You promised to take care of us, and you're gonna you're gonna take care of that this morning. We don't have any breakfast right now, but I know you're gonna take care of it. And as he finished his prayer, there's a knock at the door, and a man who owned a bakery said to him, he said, I don't know why, but for some reason the Lord told me to bake bread and bring it to you guys this morning. And so they start, so he had they brought in all this bread. Kid had another bread. A few minutes later, another knock on the door, and it's a milkman, and he says, I've broken down, and this milk's gonna spoil. Could you use the milk? So they didn't, so they had bread and milk for breakfast. Just an amazing uh faith. I believe my mother had faith. I can remember so many conversations where I it went like this in our household. You'd hear my mom say to my dad, uh, Jack, I think we need to give $500 to so and so. And my dad would say, Well, Norma, we don't have $500 to give. And she would say, I know, but I think we're supposed to give it anyway. And he says, Okay, write a check. And she would, and God would take care of it. So this is the gift of faith. So Paul says, let's suppose the person has that gift. An amazing thing, a very cool gift. But add to it now that not only with this gift of faith, not only do they have that great ability to trust God, but let's suppose that along with that comes the ability to, uh, I'm actually trying to find my space here so I say it right, to move mountains. Their faith is so big that they, you're walking along with them one day on the path, and and they're they want to go over there, but there's a mountain in the way, and they just say, move. And it moves. Now, has that ever happened? No. But Paul's saying, even if so, even let's say God did do that, and he could. God could do that, God could give that along with gifts, even if he did, as amazing and as powerful as that is, it's not a big as big a deal as having love. That's a bigger deal. And so you see what Paul's doing is he's setting up these, they they never have happened, but he's saying if they did, even if it did happen, so going back to chapter 1, it's or verse 1, says the same setup. Let's suppose that God did give some of you the spiritual gift of tongue, which is a legitimate gift. And but not only could you speak in the tongue of men, but somehow he gave you the ability to speak in this angelic tongue, too. Well, has that ever happened in scripture? No, I don't believe it has. In fact, we're not even told in scripture that there is an angelic tongue other than this place, that there every time you we hear angels speaking, they speak in our language, in the language of humans. But he's saying, even if that were the case, even if even if a person uh had the gift of prophecy and knows everything, which never has happened, even if a person had the gift of faith and is able to command mountains and move, which has never happened, even if a person has the gift of tongues, and not only can they speak human languages, but they can speak this in Jellic language, which again I believe he's saying doesn't happen. The bigger deal is do they have love? Are they demonstrating a godly like love, which the church in Corinth wasn't? And he's saying, here you I guess are worrying about these gifts and saying, Oh, well, I have the gift of faith, well, I have the gift of tongues, and and fighting over which is the most important and which is the bigger deal, and and and you're missing the point. The point is loving each other with a godly love. And why this is so such a big deal is because there's a world that is watching you, and they're seeing you're fighting, and they're seeing this one-upping of each other, and they're seeing this uh ugliness, even in what you call your love feast, and they're discarding God because of the way you're treating each other. And so that's the big deal. We're gonna talk, uh there's another aspect of the of what has come out of Acts chapter two that I think is is confusing, and we we'll we'll try to, Lord willing, if you come, we'll come back to that next week and and talk about that as well when it comes to this this whole thing about uh the Holy Spirit, and and and that is, you know, all through Acts you have these situations where when an individual individuals uh every time there's they come to Christ, they speak in tongues. And so the assumption is, well, that's the way it's supposed to be for all believers. I want to talk about that next week because I think again there may be a misunderstanding there that uh we at least need to weigh over. But this morning, we are gonna end our time together celebrating God's love. Celebrating the model he set for us of this sacrificial love that is based on not what is best for me as an individual or you as an individual, but what is based on others. That our Lord Jesus gave his life, went through all the things that led up to the cross, and then the cross itself, not not for his best interest, not because it would benefit him, but because of us, for us, because he loved us. And so he told us, uh, and and and I think this the the obviously the main reason for this is so that we will uh so that we will see his love for us, but also just as that reminder of how we're supposed to love each other, as illustrated in the space in 1 Corinthians. And so he told us to take the bread, and so we're gonna do that, take the bread, and together eat the bread, which represented his body, which was broken on our behalf because he loved us, uh, and and it's a model for how we're to love each other, and then he told us to take the cup, which reminds us that it wasn't just the suffering, it wasn't just the beatings, it wasn't just the cross. He actually gave his life in our place as a payment for our sins so that we could be forgiven, and so we drink the cup together. Thank you for your scripture, for for just allowing us to wrestle through things. And and we know our enemy is always always out looking for ways to cause us to be divided. Uh just it seems like weeks into the early church, and already there were some struggles, uh, some issues, because Satan knows if he can get us at each other's throats, then then it discounts who you are to a lost world that's watching. And so I pray for your protection for us as a as true North Church. I pray for that often, Lord, uh, because I know our enemy is looking for ways to cause struggles. And I pray that for all the churches in our community, that we will be uh just really, really solid in our demonstration of our love for each other. I thank you for the the ability you've given us to look at your scriptures and wave things through. And and Lord, I think this has been an important discussion this morning. I pray for each individual here as they wrestle through these scriptures and and that you will guide us into your truth, that we'll be thinking right about this very special and amazing moment when the Holy Spirit came upon believers. And and Lord, with grateful hearts, we thank you for living in each one of us that are your children here, that there is nowhere we can go, that you are not there with us. We are so grateful for that. And now, Lord, help us to be a light that points to you to a lost world as we move out of this building today. I pray these things in your son's name. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 38:53

Church, would you stand with me? Let's sing one last chorus.