10/19/2015 The Nations UnitedScriptures: Genesis 11:1-9, Acts 2:1-6
There is one place in this world where all nations can be unified: the Church. In Genesis 11, we find the story of the building of the city of Babel. The whole earth was of one language and people of the earth dwelled in one location: the plain of Shinar. The people decided to build a city and a tower. The Lord said: "The people are one nothing will restrain them." So God confounded their language and let could not understand one another's speech, and the people were scattered abroad. In Acts 2, we find the story of God establishing the New Testament church. God had devout men out of every nation gather in Jerusalem. On the day of Pentecost God fills His church with the Holy Ghost. "They began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance and the multitude heard them speaking in their language." God was removing confusion so that they could be one again. It is the Holy Spirit that bring us together. Babel displayed the spirit of arrogance and pride, while Pentecost displayed the power of love. Babel divided men through language; Pentecost united men through the Holy Spirit by providing the gift of tongues. Babel brought confusion: Pentecost brought peace. Babel shows us man full of himself and Pentecost shows us man full of God. Babel brought the destruction of the city and tower, while Pentecost brought the foundation of the church. Babel scattered man over the face of the earth to tell their children of God's powerful wrath; Pentecost scattered believers over the face of the earth to tell the world of Jesus and His power to save. The tower people gathered together to do their own thing: confusion comes when we try to do things on our own. The early Pentecostal church obeyed Jesus, gathered together, waited for His promise, were united, they prayed and God gave them His Holy Spirit. Have you received the Holy Spirit? It is the Holy Spirit that bring us together: in Jesus' church the nations unite through the power of the Holy Spirit. 10/4/2015 Life Vs. DeathScriptures: John 14:6, 1 Corinthians 15:26
Jesus, the Life, went to battle with death. The Bible tells us that the last enemy is death: death is the last enemy we will face. Only the Life can overcome this enemy. Hebrews 9:27 tells us that death is the enemy that stalks us all. "And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment..." All of mankind has the same enemy. Jesus came to defeat this enemy for all of mankind. Hebrews 2:9 tells us that Jesus engaged this enemy. Jesus came to taste death for all of us. He engaged this enemy on the cross. Jesus defeated this enemy, death, in the tomb. 1 Corinthians 15:20 shows us the eradication of this enemy. Death was defeated by the resurrection and the resurrection demonstrated His victory! Jesus' resurrection purchased our resurrection. Revelation 21:4 was the final eradication. The people of God have a common enemy, but we must remember that Jesus engaged and eradicated this enemy for each of us. The Life defeated the enemy! |
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