1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,080 Another one of my friends is going to be getting married sometime in the next month and 2 00:00:04,520 --> 00:00:08,760 In looking at this as I started thinking about some of the weddings that I've done before 3 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:11,840 What was funny is that before coming to Christ Memorial? 4 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:19,140 I don't know that I've ever actually conducted a wedding in a church before I had done a wedding on a mountain 5 00:00:19,140 --> 00:00:23,360 I had done a wedding in a bar. I had done a wedding on a ranch 6 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,160 You know in a box with the box with socks. I mean whatever it may be 7 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,960 but one of the things with the different weddings is that 8 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,480 99 times out of a hundred you can almost guarantee 9 00:00:36,160 --> 00:00:42,520 That they're going to want one specific passage read in the wedding, which would be 10 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:45,740 first Corinthians 13 and 11 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:54,000 You've got to have the love is patient love is kind love keeps no record of wrongs and some of the couples that are out there are saying 12 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,200 I think we may have to go revisit those a little bit there 13 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:05,720 But in thinking about it is the funny part about first Corinthians 13 is that it has absolutely nothing to do 14 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:10,880 with weddings and in reality it has actually nothing to do with 15 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:18,040 couples whatsoever is that it actually is trying to explain a little bit more 16 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:24,040 About what we're speaking about the unity of the church from first Corinthians 12 now 17 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:30,520 I'm not going to be the jerk pastor who tells a married couple. You're not you can't use that passage 18 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:35,800 It's not technically about weddings and then everybody goes to find somebody else to do their wedding for them 19 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:41,080 But with it though is when we think of some of those parts of that chapter 20 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:47,720 When we think what is before the wedding scripture of first Corinthians 13? 21 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:52,200 We realize why all those random parts are in there 22 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:58,360 Because it seems so out of context when all we know of it is the wedding scripture 23 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:04,120 So for example when it says if I speak in the tongues of angels and of men but have not loved, you know 24 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,120 I'm a sounding gong clanging symbol 25 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:14,240 Because we're looking at first Corinthians 12 talking about having gifts of speaking in tongues of angels 26 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:21,440 And he's trying to put it in context or to realize that it's not just you can do it 27 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:32,000 That's great. But are you loving your neighbor as you do so or if I have the gift of prophecy and I can fathom all mysteries 28 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:38,880 What does that have to do with married couples? Well, no is that realizing is that in chapter 12 29 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:46,720 Some people had a gift of being able to speak the truth of the present or the future and others were able to give 30 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:51,800 Wisdom and knowledge so they're trying to explain yes, but 31 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:57,560 Whatever gift you have are you doing so with love for your neighbor? 32 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:04,360 Not just trying to be puffed up and prove something to other people if I have a faith that can move mountains 33 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,120 Because in chapter 12 it had said 34 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:13,240 For those who have faith who have the gift of faith and it sounds strange 35 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,200 Because we may be thinking well wait a minute 36 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:24,600 Shouldn't we all have the gift of faith? Yes, but it's specifying the idea of faith that can do miraculous things 37 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:33,120 And then on top of it says love does not dishonor and this idea of being able to point out 38 00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:35,920 that oftentimes in 39 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:42,720 Especially in the early church, but we still see it sometimes today is that people might try to prove themselves to be more 40 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:48,640 Spiritual than somebody else and it's almost like trying to honor yourself 41 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:51,560 by shaming somebody else and 42 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:57,640 It says when I was a child that thought like a child spoke like a child that reasoned like a child 43 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:03,760 But when I became a man, you know, I put away childish things and you're like, okay now you just lost me Paul 44 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,240 And that's because in chapter 12 45 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,880 He's trying to let them know that they need to become more mature 46 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:19,480 They need to think through what it is they're doing and not just try to be excited and try to just have everything be 47 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,480 Whatever seems like fun at the moment 48 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,040 And he's trying to get them to think through things 49 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:27,920 So trying to understand 50 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,520 chapter 13 51 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:32,560 Today's passage is needed 52 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:40,840 But today's passage has a lot to it and one of the things that always struck me whenever I would read chapter 12 53 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:48,720 Was the idea when it says no one who says Jesus be cursed has the spirit of God 54 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,440 And that's one of the things about this is this idea of 55 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,160 Can Christians say? 56 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:01,800 Jesus be cursed and you know, that's something that's interesting is how often 57 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:08,440 Do you feel like you are genuinely being asked by somebody to curse Jesus? 58 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:15,120 That's not like a normal thing you don't go to Starbucks and give them your Starbucks points and they say thank you 59 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:22,120 Would you like whipped cream great? Would you like to curse Jesus? No, okay? That would be fine. That'll be seven dollars 60 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:28,080 But we think about what in the world is the understanding that's happening here 61 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:35,080 What are they trying to get across now? What you have to realize is that there actually were times 62 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:39,720 Where people were being interrogated 63 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,720 About whether or not they were actually Christian and there was a test 64 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:51,320 Later on so this was later after Paul was writing here, but it gives a context 65 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:58,360 is that emperor Trajan the Roman Empire if he wondered if someone was following this 66 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:04,960 Christian sect would actually have a person in front of him and say okay curse Jesus and 67 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:11,200 If a person could curse Jesus in front of him and give a sacrifice to the gods 68 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:16,120 He would let them go because no one who's a Christian can do that 69 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:22,840 But if they couldn't and if they still had to proclaim Jesus as Lord 70 00:06:24,280 --> 00:06:27,080 It kind of proves who they truly are 71 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:31,480 But you see there's also a lot more to this context too 72 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:34,800 See there were also 73 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:39,120 different cults at the time that might try to combine 74 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:41,640 Christianity 75 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,160 into what they were teaching and doing at the time 76 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:46,800 Dionysus or 77 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:51,760 Bacchus or basically the god of partying and revelry there was a cult and 78 00:06:51,760 --> 00:07:01,160 With it was that they would oftentimes have these like strange worship times where they were in these ecstatic movements and everything where they were just 79 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:09,120 Experiencing whatever was overwhelming them at the moment and in their ecstasy. They would say all sorts of random things and 80 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:15,120 some Christian believers at the time speaking to Corinth 81 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:22,360 Some of them were tempted to listen to some of them and what may come from these particular 82 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,000 priests and priestesses 83 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,000 The thing is though 84 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:31,760 That you never knew whether they would or wouldn't bless or curse Jesus 85 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:37,440 And to be able to say that whatever you're hearing from people around you 86 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:44,720 It should never be if it's the spirit of God the spirit of God is not going to fill somebody and then they go 87 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:46,720 And curse Jesus 88 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:50,360 But third 89 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:57,460 Is to remember that whatever we do to the least of these we have done 90 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,400 onto Christ 91 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:05,680 We oftentimes love the idea of blessing Jesus name 92 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:12,440 But are we willing to do so by blessing the people he loves and 93 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:20,080 That's something that we have to remember is that whether we have blessed or cursed our neighbor is 94 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,400 Also indicative of whether we are blessing or cursing 95 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,440 Jesus 96 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:32,560 Because as much as we in the world we have to make difficult life decisions 97 00:08:33,680 --> 00:08:35,680 We don't have to do so 98 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:38,740 hurtfully or without compassion 99 00:08:38,740 --> 00:08:49,020 We can always pause whether it be our family our friends our business our home the world around us and always say 100 00:08:50,140 --> 00:08:52,140 Can I do this? 101 00:08:53,060 --> 00:08:57,020 With compassion and understanding in my heart 102 00:08:58,900 --> 00:09:01,620 But it then goes from this idea of 103 00:09:01,620 --> 00:09:11,820 Those who follow Jesus his spirit cannot say Jesus be cursed and it starts going into the different gifts of God's spirit 104 00:09:12,460 --> 00:09:18,740 The thing is is that there are different places in scripture that actually list out 105 00:09:18,820 --> 00:09:22,060 What are the gifts of God's spirit and? 106 00:09:23,060 --> 00:09:28,300 There are some that are listed here in 1st Corinthians 12. It talks about 107 00:09:28,300 --> 00:09:35,700 Sorry, it talks about being able to give wisdom as well as those who can give knowledge 108 00:09:36,500 --> 00:09:42,820 Talks about those who have faith and those who can do healing and miraculous powers 109 00:09:43,020 --> 00:09:45,020 Those who can have prophecy 110 00:09:45,220 --> 00:09:48,740 distinguished between spirits speak in different kinds of tongues and 111 00:09:49,500 --> 00:09:51,660 In and interpret the tongues 112 00:09:51,660 --> 00:09:58,460 We're going to notice that the two in regarded tongues are last in this list and 113 00:09:59,380 --> 00:10:04,100 We know that Paul is trying to help explain to the people 114 00:10:04,980 --> 00:10:08,940 What they're supposed to do with those tongues, but you see this list 115 00:10:09,900 --> 00:10:13,740 This is not the only place for time where we see a similar list 116 00:10:13,740 --> 00:10:17,700 It's it says in here about wisdom and knowledge. Let's be honest 117 00:10:17,700 --> 00:10:23,460 There are a lot of times where somebody may have a lot of book learning, but they don't seem to be very wise 118 00:10:24,060 --> 00:10:26,540 So maybe they are able to teach 119 00:10:27,100 --> 00:10:33,700 Physics to a high school class, but they're not quite sure what to do with the breaker box outside of their home or 120 00:10:34,740 --> 00:10:42,620 Oftentimes wherever somebody may be able to be really intelligent about knowing all these completely flowery things to speak 121 00:10:42,620 --> 00:10:48,900 Maybe they majored in communication, but then in person they seem to get on everybody's nerves 122 00:10:48,900 --> 00:10:52,180 And there can be knowledge, but not always wisdom 123 00:10:52,740 --> 00:10:56,300 And at the same time there can be wisdom and not knowledge 124 00:10:56,740 --> 00:11:03,460 Or maybe a person is always trying to somehow balance things out, but doesn't have enough input to do so 125 00:11:04,220 --> 00:11:07,500 but comparing this list with 126 00:11:08,380 --> 00:11:10,380 Romans 12 127 00:11:10,380 --> 00:11:13,900 Where it says having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us 128 00:11:14,340 --> 00:11:22,860 Let us use them if prophecy in proportion to our faith if service in our serving the one who teaches in 129 00:11:23,460 --> 00:11:28,820 His teaching the one who exhorts like you are urging people to things 130 00:11:29,820 --> 00:11:33,020 Then in his exhortation the one who contributes in 131 00:11:34,060 --> 00:11:38,820 Generosity the one who leads in zeal and the one who does acts of mercy 132 00:11:38,820 --> 00:11:40,820 with cheerfulness or 133 00:11:42,060 --> 00:11:49,860 In Ephesians 4 it says he gave the apostles the prophets the evangelists the shepherds and 134 00:11:50,180 --> 00:11:55,900 Teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ 135 00:11:56,820 --> 00:12:01,940 All of these lists are supposed to be similar. They're not exhaustive 136 00:12:01,940 --> 00:12:08,900 It's not like you can't say well, you know, I have a particular gift from God and I'm glad to use it 137 00:12:08,900 --> 00:12:13,180 But it's not listed in here. So therefore I have to ignore it now granted 138 00:12:13,180 --> 00:12:17,700 I believe that the Spirit of God has given me that the gift of terrible jokes 139 00:12:17,820 --> 00:12:23,180 But for some reason Paul forgot to include it in here because I don't think he knew the Greek word for it 140 00:12:23,260 --> 00:12:29,020 But with these is that we realize that the other passages 141 00:12:29,020 --> 00:12:32,620 Notice that they don't specify 142 00:12:33,940 --> 00:12:35,940 speaking in tongues 143 00:12:36,540 --> 00:12:42,860 And that's because speaking in tongues was not supposed to be something so special and set apart 144 00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:47,220 That it missed the point of all the other gifts 145 00:12:48,180 --> 00:12:51,260 It's not supposed to be something for its own sake 146 00:12:51,980 --> 00:12:54,420 Not something where that goes beyond 147 00:12:55,420 --> 00:12:57,420 speaking the gospel 148 00:12:57,420 --> 00:12:59,140 teaching 149 00:12:59,140 --> 00:13:04,060 Bringing people to know one another and to know God more clearly 150 00:13:04,820 --> 00:13:10,420 And that's something that we need to at least understand a bit before we can ask this question about 151 00:13:11,460 --> 00:13:13,460 speaking in tongues 152 00:13:13,580 --> 00:13:15,580 huh, and 153 00:13:15,620 --> 00:13:17,620 Let's just be honest 154 00:13:17,820 --> 00:13:21,100 Lutherans have a rough time with passages like this 155 00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:28,620 We really do and you know if somebody all of a sudden were to over often the fellowship hall start speaking in tongues 156 00:13:29,020 --> 00:13:35,780 We probably go check to see if the security guard is still here in the narthex and that's the thing with it though is 157 00:13:36,260 --> 00:13:38,260 What even is it? 158 00:13:38,580 --> 00:13:40,820 What is the speaking in tongues? 159 00:13:41,940 --> 00:13:43,940 Because there are 160 00:13:43,940 --> 00:13:45,940 discussions about whether or not 161 00:13:46,220 --> 00:13:48,220 There are two different things happening 162 00:13:48,220 --> 00:13:50,500 between acts to 163 00:13:51,540 --> 00:13:53,540 Where the people at Pentecost 164 00:13:53,940 --> 00:13:57,140 We're speaking in different languages in different tongues 165 00:13:58,580 --> 00:14:00,580 Versus first Corinthians 12 166 00:14:01,420 --> 00:14:05,700 Where they are the speaking of tongues and the interpreting of tongues 167 00:14:06,660 --> 00:14:08,260 now 168 00:14:08,260 --> 00:14:12,820 Oftentimes we may be looking at this idea of whether or not those are two 169 00:14:12,820 --> 00:14:19,100 separate types of things if you look at reading the chapters on their own if 170 00:14:19,700 --> 00:14:24,420 You look at them in their context because what we see in acts, too 171 00:14:24,420 --> 00:14:33,660 Is that you have people that are all of a sudden speaking languages to people in front of them that they can understand? 172 00:14:34,780 --> 00:14:39,260 Whereas you may normally have people that are speaking Aramaic 173 00:14:39,260 --> 00:14:46,300 Maybe Greek maybe Hebrew remember Aramaic was kind of a common language 174 00:14:46,300 --> 00:14:50,620 It's like what English has become for us today, but for business 175 00:14:51,420 --> 00:14:53,420 You would speak Greek 176 00:14:53,740 --> 00:14:56,860 For religious purposes you had Hebrew 177 00:14:57,540 --> 00:15:01,340 But now all the different people that might be coming through 178 00:15:02,220 --> 00:15:07,580 Jerusalem and the Roman Empire speaking all these other languages and all of a sudden you're 179 00:15:07,580 --> 00:15:15,420 Explaining the gospel to them, but it's coming out in completely different and strange words 180 00:15:16,140 --> 00:15:17,780 it was like 181 00:15:17,780 --> 00:15:21,340 when I was in in China and I was trying to learn 182 00:15:22,260 --> 00:15:25,940 Chinese and I was trying to like pick up some things and 183 00:15:26,980 --> 00:15:30,620 Sometimes whenever you've learned you're trying to learn a different language 184 00:15:30,700 --> 00:15:35,980 But maybe you had tried a different one before and you realize I never learned that word 185 00:15:35,980 --> 00:15:42,260 but I had never learned the word sandwich in Spanish and 186 00:15:42,900 --> 00:15:46,740 Here I was trying to learn sandwich in Chinese 187 00:15:47,740 --> 00:15:49,260 Sun Misa 188 00:15:49,260 --> 00:15:51,660 All right, and so I could say 189 00:15:52,820 --> 00:15:55,740 Well, y'all Sun Misa I want to sandwich 190 00:15:56,220 --> 00:16:00,660 But the problem was that I never learned what it was in Spanish. The problem is is that nowadays I 191 00:16:00,660 --> 00:16:07,700 Keep trying to say yo quiero un sandwich and all I come out with is yo quiero un sun means 192 00:16:07,700 --> 00:16:12,340 Oh and the poor lady at the taqueria has nobody to deal what I'm trying to say to her 193 00:16:13,300 --> 00:16:15,300 Now in my mind 194 00:16:15,300 --> 00:16:19,900 I'm trying to say sandwich and I'm trying to do it as bilingual as I can 195 00:16:20,700 --> 00:16:23,180 But the word coming out is completely wrong 196 00:16:23,980 --> 00:16:25,980 Or different from what I'm expecting 197 00:16:25,980 --> 00:16:30,380 But could you imagine that now at this moment? 198 00:16:30,740 --> 00:16:37,300 They're not just doing this as bilingual or trialing will people who accidentally slip up and fall into their other language 199 00:16:37,860 --> 00:16:41,140 But now they're doing it with languages that they never actually knew 200 00:16:42,420 --> 00:16:46,700 Their brain is trying to say one thing and it comes out differently 201 00:16:47,460 --> 00:16:50,740 But now if you look at first Corinthians 12 202 00:16:50,740 --> 00:16:56,380 It seems completely different a ton of angels 203 00:16:57,100 --> 00:17:03,060 as if it's some other type of language that nobody actually speaks on earth and 204 00:17:03,460 --> 00:17:08,140 The only way to try to understand it if somebody else is standing there saying okay 205 00:17:08,140 --> 00:17:15,460 I think this is what the angels would understand you to say they might call it holy mumbling in some ways now 206 00:17:16,460 --> 00:17:18,700 And do you have to mention is that? 207 00:17:18,700 --> 00:17:21,140 we 208 00:17:21,140 --> 00:17:22,380 believe 209 00:17:22,380 --> 00:17:26,020 That God could very well utilize tongues again as 210 00:17:27,060 --> 00:17:31,980 Needed to spread the gospel it is always possible for God to do his work 211 00:17:32,340 --> 00:17:39,780 What's been interesting is the cessationists the ones who say that there are no more gifts of the spirit today 212 00:17:40,740 --> 00:17:42,740 what they will say is 213 00:17:42,940 --> 00:17:44,180 that 214 00:17:44,180 --> 00:17:50,460 At that time first Corinthians 12 did not mean anything other than speaking in 215 00:17:51,020 --> 00:17:56,860 Human languages that other people understood at the time and they believe 216 00:17:57,260 --> 00:18:04,900 Many of them that only until the Pentecostal movement became a thing 18th 19th century 217 00:18:05,980 --> 00:18:07,980 That all of a sudden commentaries 218 00:18:07,980 --> 00:18:14,540 Started adding this angel language in there to meet what was being taught 219 00:18:15,540 --> 00:18:17,540 by that particular church body 220 00:18:18,900 --> 00:18:22,740 The reason why they would say this number one because many of them are 221 00:18:23,380 --> 00:18:26,300 uncomfortable with the concept of tongues, but also 222 00:18:27,420 --> 00:18:34,220 When they look at the word tongues is that it's the same word between the two passages 223 00:18:34,220 --> 00:18:42,700 But if you look at the context in first Corinthians 12 and it speaks to there are the tongues of angels 224 00:18:43,860 --> 00:18:47,900 We also know that there were many early church fathers 225 00:18:48,060 --> 00:18:54,860 When they were speaking and talking at different times that would reference this idea of there being a different language 226 00:18:54,980 --> 00:18:56,980 That somehow came from heaven 227 00:18:57,580 --> 00:18:59,580 Ignatius and tertulian and 228 00:19:00,220 --> 00:19:01,660 Augustine 229 00:19:01,660 --> 00:19:04,660 Even to the point where there was even 230 00:19:04,660 --> 00:19:09,140 Montanus who even had a heretical sect based out of it or 231 00:19:09,900 --> 00:19:14,340 Even during the dark ages the Middle Ages if you will where they would be 232 00:19:14,620 --> 00:19:20,700 Different monks or nuns who would speak to the idea of having a heavenly language and ecstatic speech 233 00:19:21,780 --> 00:19:26,340 So ever since the time of Paul there have always been those 234 00:19:26,940 --> 00:19:30,660 Who have felt like they were able to have some time of 235 00:19:30,660 --> 00:19:36,660 Speaking in some other language that no human would understand 236 00:19:38,300 --> 00:19:40,300 But is there something to it 237 00:19:41,700 --> 00:19:43,700 To be fair 238 00:19:43,740 --> 00:19:45,740 It has actually been studied 239 00:19:46,380 --> 00:19:52,820 To actually measure the brain waves is that when a person is speaking in tongues at a time like that 240 00:19:53,180 --> 00:19:55,180 It actually shows 241 00:19:55,220 --> 00:19:58,020 That it's not using the same part of the brain 242 00:19:58,020 --> 00:20:02,900 That you would normally use to communicate when talking to people 243 00:20:03,900 --> 00:20:05,900 So whatever is happening 244 00:20:06,580 --> 00:20:13,700 They genuinely believe that they are speaking in a heavenly language in their mind. They're not faking it 245 00:20:15,780 --> 00:20:20,180 But that doesn't mean that we should just always 246 00:20:20,940 --> 00:20:22,140 accept it 247 00:20:22,140 --> 00:20:24,140 No matter what comes from it 248 00:20:24,900 --> 00:20:26,900 Why is that? 249 00:20:26,900 --> 00:20:30,420 because of the purpose of gifts 250 00:20:31,540 --> 00:20:35,780 Because the purpose of gifts is always to proclaim 251 00:20:36,740 --> 00:20:38,740 Christ 252 00:20:39,060 --> 00:20:45,740 Because that's the thing about this is that if somebody is wishing to have a time where they are 253 00:20:46,780 --> 00:20:53,700 Speaking something that they feel is mystical or grabs attention and somehow people are going to listen more 254 00:20:53,700 --> 00:20:57,460 Is that we have to be careful at those times? 255 00:20:58,660 --> 00:21:01,540 Even for those who feel themselves gifted in 256 00:21:02,460 --> 00:21:09,020 This particular area many of them are trained to start by doing it by just mumbling and 257 00:21:09,580 --> 00:21:12,060 Hoping that the spirit will take it from there or 258 00:21:13,300 --> 00:21:20,940 Others where they know that they have just been caught up in a community that was doing the same 259 00:21:20,940 --> 00:21:24,980 But even more than that is even asking what was the purpose 260 00:21:25,980 --> 00:21:31,460 Because Paul tells us that tongues were only meant for unbelievers 261 00:21:32,260 --> 00:21:34,660 the purpose behind it 262 00:21:35,740 --> 00:21:37,860 Was going to the Gentiles 263 00:21:38,860 --> 00:21:45,460 Was going to people who were speaking other languages and making sure that they could hear the gospel so if you are 264 00:21:45,460 --> 00:21:51,020 In a worship setting with believers the gift God desires 265 00:21:52,020 --> 00:21:54,020 is prophecy 266 00:21:54,740 --> 00:21:56,740 speaking truth 267 00:21:57,580 --> 00:21:59,780 And that's the thing that we have to be careful about 268 00:22:01,500 --> 00:22:05,340 We are in a world where people have many different perspectives on what faith may be 269 00:22:06,980 --> 00:22:11,980 But whatever that perspective may be that is always meant for the same purpose 270 00:22:11,980 --> 00:22:14,700 To proclaim Christ Jesus 271 00:22:15,500 --> 00:22:19,340 It's not about trying to do something for ourselves 272 00:22:20,540 --> 00:22:22,540 But more than that 273 00:22:22,940 --> 00:22:25,260 Is to also be able to point out 274 00:22:26,060 --> 00:22:28,860 That many of us have many different gifts 275 00:22:29,820 --> 00:22:33,900 We are all sorts of different gifted types of people 276 00:22:34,940 --> 00:22:40,460 There are those who are teaching there are those who are teaching 277 00:22:40,460 --> 00:22:45,740 There are those who are preaching there are those who are comforting and caring for one another 278 00:22:46,140 --> 00:22:51,940 There are those who are getting out there to make sure that they share the gospel and those who are going out to plant new churches 279 00:22:52,540 --> 00:22:54,980 There are many people doing many different things 280 00:22:56,500 --> 00:23:02,020 But we're all meant to be sharing in the same spirit of God 281 00:23:03,620 --> 00:23:06,420 Whatever it is that we feel called to by God 282 00:23:06,420 --> 00:23:11,060 We should still be learning who he is in spirit and in truth 283 00:23:11,780 --> 00:23:16,180 And we should still be asking is this bearing the fruit 284 00:23:17,100 --> 00:23:19,100 That God desires of us 285 00:23:19,380 --> 00:23:21,380 Because whatever your gifts may be 286 00:23:22,100 --> 00:23:25,380 They will always be to share love 287 00:23:26,180 --> 00:23:27,500 joy 288 00:23:27,500 --> 00:23:29,500 peace 289 00:23:29,900 --> 00:23:31,900 Patience kindness 290 00:23:32,380 --> 00:23:34,380 goodness 291 00:23:34,380 --> 00:23:35,980 faithfulness 292 00:23:35,980 --> 00:23:37,060 gentleness 293 00:23:37,060 --> 00:23:39,060 and self-control 294 00:23:39,740 --> 00:23:44,220 Whatever someone may tell you is from God 295 00:23:45,260 --> 00:23:51,180 If it is not to proclaim his gospel and to bear the fruits of his spirit 296 00:23:51,820 --> 00:23:53,820 then run away 297 00:23:54,660 --> 00:23:59,500 Because all of these are meant for one spirit and for one Lord 298 00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:07,940 So as we continue in this world around us and we see that there are so many things that we may pursue in faith 299 00:24:09,500 --> 00:24:14,500 People may come to you with things that they declare to be of the spirit of God 300 00:24:15,780 --> 00:24:18,260 But you must always pause and ask 301 00:24:19,260 --> 00:24:21,260 Is this 302 00:24:21,260 --> 00:24:25,620 Proclaiming Christ Jesus to the world in a way they can understand as 303 00:24:25,620 --> 00:24:33,500 It and is it helping us to grow in humility and truth in the fruits of God's spirit 304 00:24:34,260 --> 00:24:38,380 Because nothing from God will ever contradict that 305 00:24:38,380 --> 00:24:56,380 Thanks be to God