Acts 2:1-12 1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. 5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
The church is stronger when there is unity. There definitely is strength in numbers. Paul writes it best in 1 Cor 1:12-15, "What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Pau"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name." The church is definitely divided, whether by race, creed, language, color, geography, and denomination. The first century church at Pentecost as written in Acts 2 was a mix various races, colors, and ethnicities, worshipping the Lord together. There was no barrier then and there should not be one now. The church is better when there is unity, "one Lord, one faith, one baptism."--Ephesians 4:5
We will have our disagreements, but the message is clear. It comes from 1 Cor 8:6. It says, "6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." If there is one God, then why so many denominations? Because of man's disagreements and man's traditions, not God's traditions. God's word is clear on a divided church. In Acts 4:24, the believers worshipped the Lord together, "When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them." It would be beautiful if all believers regardless of race, class, color, and age would worship the Lord together in holiness.1 Cr 6:17 writes, "But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit." Wouldn't it be nice if all believers united themselves with the Lord, for those who are believers are to be one with Him in Spirit? Paul writes in Ephesians 4:3-4, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ther is is one body and one Spirt-just as you were called one hope, when you were called-" Paul also writes of the need for every believer, one part, in the entire body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12-31.
1Ths. 3:12May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
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