Videos may be downloaded from www.uplandfirst.org/YouTube.
Intro – Video: All together … SMART CAR
GWR version (Guinness World Record)
A new world record … 18 adults in a SMART CAR.
AMPLIFIED PASTOR KRATZ (APK version)
18 DUMB adults in a SMART CAR!
I think that this video offers us three great life-applications about this morning’s focus on UNITY.
I. Personal COMFORT VS COLLECTIVE Goal (Unity of Purpose)
1. Each participant put their own personal comfort and preferences aside to accomplish the greater collective purpose of setting a new world record.
a. It took cooperation of every participant.
b. No one was more essential than the other….
i. the 13th was just as important as the 3rd
ii. who was just as important in accomplishing the goal as the 18th
2. If any ONE decided that they would no longer cooperate,
it would have foiled the entire effort.
3. Although all equally important in the effort, there is no doubt that some participants had more preferable positions than others.
IE: In this situation
I would have opted to act very SPIRITUALLY MINDED
• Let others go first.
• I would really prefer to be THE LAST PERSON IN!
o The Bible says that the first shall be last and the last … FIRST
• I would willingly have been the last person in….
COME TO THINK OF IT…maybe it really has very little with SPIRITUAL-MINDEDNESS and more of a reaction to an acute condition of claustrophobia that I have had since a child!!!
• If I had to go into the car... it would have had to been at the last knowing that I would also be the first person out!
I. Personal COMFORT VS COLLECTIVE Goal
(Pictures available on website)
II. good visual PICTURE OF UNITY –
in comparison to UNIFORMITY.
1. If we were to line up all the participants,
anything but IDENTICAL.
about an equal ratio - Male/Female
Different abilities….
Think of all of the possible UNIQUE factors that each participant brought to the SMART CAR.
• musical abilities
• level of scholastic achievement
• cultural background
• economic conditions
• Mustaches!!!! (Females would have found that difficult to emulate for the sake of UNIFORMITY!)
Certainly, these participants DO NOT illustrate uniformity
At first glance, it would appear that at least their attire illustrates uniformity ... but at a closer look,
not even that …
OBSERVE.... some have sleeves, some short pants – some long
There WERE two areas of UNIFORMITY though…
ALL participants were ROCK CLIMBERS….
ALL AUSTRALIANS (UNIFORMITY)
SO what exactly brought about UNITY?
• An external influence otherwise referred to as THE SMART CAR!
under the supervision of a MUTUALLY AGREED UPON coordinator
who had the final goal clearly in view and could help reach that goal.
I. Personal COMFORT VS COLLECTIVE Goal
II. UNITY – not UNIFORMITY
III. Focus on the OBJECTIVE vs on OBJECTIONS
1. Each participant had to keep his/her focus on finishing the goal rather than to complain about the process or the position that they were put in to accomplish the collective goal.
Remember some of the looks of pain …. and yet, for the sake of achieving the goal, they opted to focus on the objective rather than state their personal objections.
2. There was no time for complaints (had to be completed in 10 minutes).
If someone had of taken it on themselves to express complaints,
it would have compromised the entire project.
IL. A horse can't pull while kicking.
A competitor can’t compete while COMPLAINING about the CONDITIONS!
3. The victory was shared by all alike.
They exemplified … ALL for ONE … ONE for ALL
i. There was no single victor….
ii. Each one won a medal
I’m sure that you are already ahead of me in applying the SMART CAR VIDEO PARABLE to what took place on the DAY OF PENTECOST and what should be our model in the church of Jesus Christ today.
APPLICATION: I would like to look at these three aspects from two perspectives.
1. PENTECOST
2. OUR LOCAL CHURCH
I. Personal COMFORT VS COLLECTIVE Goal
Remember, the "waiting time" was 10 Days before PENTECOST – not 10 minutes (Smart Car)
1. Judging by their past behavior …DISCIPLES seemed anxious to place comfort above their commission!
I.E. Jesus asked them to pray, they opted instead to take a nap.
Instead of following His instructions to "WAIT,"
they probably were tempted to DO SOMETHING!
a. GO FISHING - that was the choice of several disciples following the crucifixion.
b. 120 ….crammed in a small room ... maybe not quite as crowded as the Smart Car
little doubt: UNCOMFORTABLE
i. body odor
ii. arguments over who would lead
They had a lot of practice on this subject!
Little doubt that their former arguments now morphed into how long they should really stay .... DOING NOTHING!
WAITING was not a very evident virtue ...
I.E. Peter ... jumping from boat before considering consequences
Drawing lots to replace Judas instead of simply waiting on the Lord (see 3rd message in series)
c. Some had family responsibilities to take care of.
I.E. PETER ... had a mother-in-law ... probably kids... 10 days of "doing nothing."
d. Temptation to put their own comfort ahead of the Commission….
If disciples would have opted to put COMFORT over the COMMISSION, they would have missed their moment of DIVINE VISITATION.
2. UFCN - We too can miss the MOMENT of DIVINE VISITATION
a. If we place our personal agendas above HIS WILL
we may also miss our moment of DIVINE VISITATION.
b. If we are unwilling to compromise to achieve UNITY,
it will keep us from COMPLETING OUR COLLECTIVE MISSION….
We must be willing to exercise HOLY COMPROMISE even if that takes us out of our individual COMFORT ZONES!
II. UNITY – not UNIFORMITY.
Day of PENTECOST
1. Disciples were anything but UNIFORM!
a. Several were fishermen
b. Tax collector
c. ??? not fishermen or tax collectors….
i. farmers?
ii. tradesmen?
d. We know of at least one that was married …. PETER …. CHILDREN?
e. some single … no doubt
f. Different capacities and talents
a. maybe SOMEof the 11 surviving disciples COULD SING
b. OTHERS probably COULDN’T CARRY A TUNE IN A BUCKET
c. We know some were better at fishing than others.
2. UFCN is a picture of NON-UNIFORMITY
Glance around and see the differences we bring to the table this morning.
a. Young – middle aged – Elderly .... I said elderly, not eldonly ...
b. Skinny – not so skinny
c. male – female
d. Professions
i. Construction Supervisor
ii. Dentists
iii. Retirees
iv. Office personel
v. Plant managers
vi. Gardening specialists
vii. Students
viii. Care givers
ix. FULL TIME Stay at home parents
x. Pharmacist
xi. MASTER OF PATIENCE ….Bus driver
xii. Truck driver
xiii. Art Gallery specialist
Just to name a few
e. Gifts and Talents
i. Singers
ii. Teachers
iii. Meal preparers
iv. Management skills
v. Accounting skills
vi. Office skills
vii. Administration skills
viii. Mechanic
f. LINGUISTIC variances
First language
1. English
2. Spanish
3. Chinese
g. CULTURAL
i. Latinos
ii. Anglos
iii. African American
iv. British
v. Germanic
vi. Asian
CERTAINLY … NOT UNIFORM
some like slow music
others fast (allow time for response)
some like soft
others loud
some like calm
others prefer "organized" chaos
GET THE PICTURE?
UFCN is certainly NOT a picture of UNIFORMITY
But we are and can continue to be a picture of UNITY
Through a miracle brought about by the HOLY SPIRIT
AGAPE LOVE
I believe that UPLAND FIRST CHURCH is a long way towards fulfilling OUR LORD’S PRAYER…
that HIS BRIDE would be ONE … SO THAT THE WORLD would KNOW!
I believe that UFCN is a snapshot of HEAVEN …. I mean … look at us ….
III. Focus on OBJECTIVE vs focusing on OBJECTIONS (Unity of Purpose)
PENTECOST – not 10 minutes …. 10 DAYS
Judging by their past behavior …
DISCIPLES
No doubt…
there were complaints registered during the ten days
i. Somehow, they were able to work through those differences of opinion and remain ….
ii. IF NOT … they would have MISSED THE MOMENT of DIVINE VISITATION!
The disciples became as one
….for the sake of coming together with a UNITY of PURPOSE
In this way, they were able to remain FOCUSED on OBJECTIVE
rather than their personal OBJECTIONS
UFCN
1. We too can miss the MOMENT of DIVINE VISITATION
a. If we place our personal objections above the LARGER OBJECTIVE
Our main objective should be to one day HEAR HIM SAY,
“WELL DONE … GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT."
That is why that I have chosen the opening song for the series of sermons to be "WELL DONE."
When we work together with the SAME OBJECTIVE
it is amazing what can be accomplished ….
REMINDS ME of
(Picture available at website)
ILL. In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn't.
"What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus.
"These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."
"Which channel do you want?" asks Linus.
Turning away, he looks at his fingers and states,
"Why can't you guys get TOGETHER like that?"
When we work together with the SAME OVERARCHING OBJECTIVE
it is amazing what can be accomplished ….
One thing that BREEDS DISUNITY is MAJORING on MINORS ….
ILL. Reminds me of a short story that I ran across....
Some time ago I came upon a fellow on a trip who was carrying a Bible. and later wrote down his conversation…..
“Are you a believer?” I asked him.
“Yes” he said excitedly.
“Virgin birth?” I asked.
“I accept it.”
“Deity of Jesus?”
“No doubt.”
“Death of Christ on the cross?”
“He died for all people.”
Could it be that I was face to face with a Christian? Perhaps. Nonetheless, I continued my checklist.
“Status of man?”
“Sinner in need of grace.”
“Definition of grace?”
“God doing for man what man can’t do.”
“Return of Christ?”
“Imminent.”
“Bible?”
“Inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God.”
“The church?”
“The Body of Christ.”
I started getting excited. “Conservative or liberal?”
He was getting interested too. “Conservative.”
My heart began to beat faster.
“Heritage?”
“Southern Congregationalist Holy Son of God Dispensationalist Triune Convention.”
That was mine!
“Branch?”
“Pre-millennial, post-trib, non-charismatic, King James, one cup communion.”
My eyes misted. I had only one other question.
“Is your pulpit wooden or fiberglass?”
“Fiberglass” he responded.
I withdrew my hand and stiffened my neck.
“Heretic” I said as I walked away!
When JESUS ascended into HEAVEN
HE LEFT CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS for His followers to TARRY and PRAY…..
The constant admonition in the NEW TESTAMENT for the church is to still PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER….
It is nearly impossible to hold on to bitterness
when sincerely asking GOD to bless someone…..
Have something against someone….>>????
You may win the argument, but if there's blood on the floor, you lose anyway.
START PRAYING FOR THEM … FOR BLESSING ….
not…praying that GOD will zap them with a lightning bolt!
KEEP IT UP … eventually you will look to find a root of bitterness and come up empty-handed!!!!!!
AND WHEN WE HAVE BECOME ONE and are FILLED WITH HIS SPIRIT ….
we will all share the joy of the VICTORY that HE BRINGS!
______________________________________________________
One aspect about the DAY of PENTECOST that often times is overlooked is
that it had been decided upon before the FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH!
Translation: EVEN if the disciples had not followed our LORD’S admonition to tarry and to pray,
HE WOULD HAVE SENT HIS SPIRIT ANYWAY!
I like to think of the DAY of PENTECOST as the FIRST WAVE of the OCEAN of GOD's SPIRIT.
THAT FIRST WAVE was like a HOLY TSUNAMI!!!!!!
Subsequent waves of HIS SPIRIT have continued to sweep across the globe for almost 2000 years.
The WAVES of the SPIRIT will continue break over the inhabitants of the earth until
He RETURNS to receive HIS TRIUMPHANT BRIDE, THE CHURCH…..
This HYMN that we sang earlier in this service refers to our LORD'S TRIUMPHANT BRIDE:
Do you hear them coming, brother?—
Thronging up the steeps of light,
Clad in glorious shining garments,
Blood-washed garments, pure and white!
’Tis a glorious church without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb;
’Tis a glorious church without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb.
TODAY, GOD’S SPIRIT is STILL mightily at work!
Waves of HIS SPIRIT have swept over AFRICA … transforming millions….
The question that remains is ....will we individually be filled with His Spirit and then collectively, will we as UFCN
put aside secondary issues to catch the WAVES of HIS SPIRIT….
or not?
Reference to the Bulletin cover ….(see on the church website)
South Africa – October 2009
110 surfers set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ….
for the number of surfers riding the same wave.
In a few moments, I am planning to show a video PARABLE that
I put together that is based on that achievement.
THE DAY OF PENTECOST was defined BEFORE the foundation of the world
INDEPENDENTLY of other circumstances…..
in a similar way that the waves on that beach in South Africa, enabled the record to be broken and that the RECORD SETTING WAVE .....would have taken place with or without SURFERS, the Day of Pentecost would have taken place with or without the 120 in the UPPER ROOM!
Catch it?
Did you "HANG TEN" on that concept?
Back to the video intro. what made that wave so unique and so newsworthy was when 110 surfers out of the over 400 present that day were able to catch that single wave and ride it all at the same time!
Acts 2:1 (NIV)
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
We are told that approximately 120 followers of JESUS CHRIST including
the 11 surviving disciples,
his mother and
several dozen other men and women
CAUGHT that first WAVE of the SPIRIT because they were united in obedience …….
However, that TSUNAMI of the SPIRIT would have occurred any way…!
GOD PREORDAINED SEVERAL KEY DAYS before the foundation of the earth…
using the scientists claim….that means billions of years ago,
GOD already had decided…
• The exact DAY of the BIRTH of our REDEEMER.
It was defined before the FOUNDATION of the EARTH ….
Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
• WHEN THE SET TIME HAD FULLY COME
o THE CENSUS
o THE JOURNEY
o THE PLACE – BETHLEHEM
o THE CONDITIONS – HEROD ASSASSIN
• The exact DAY of our LORD’s CRUCIFIXION
was defined before the FOUNDATION of the EARTH
Ephesians 1:3-10 NIV
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
He chose us IN HIM before the foundation of the earth.
• This date was established EVEN if NO ONE would have accepted GOD’S PLAN of SALVATION.
Jesus would have been crucified on that PASSOVER DAY .... decided upon before the foundation of the earth.
• The EXACT day of our LORD’s RETURN
was also established before the FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH.
Matthew 24:36
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
o This will not be changed no matter what….
o We can fast and pray and beg … complain or throw a tantrum….
o …. the exact DAY is already established…
The exact DAY of PENTECOST that would serve as the birthday of the church was also defined before the FOUNDATION of the EARTH.
Even if none of the disciples had obeyed by remaining in JERUSALEM ….
THE HOLY SPIRIT would have come….ANY WAY!
Acts 2:1 (KJV)
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
o The BIRTHDAY of the CHURCH was also established before the foundation of the earth.
o It was going to happen with the disciples or without them
o It was going to happen with Mary the mother of JESUS or without her
o With His half-siblings or without them
o With people praying, waiting, anticipating, UNITED IN PURPOSE
or without them
What do you think would have happened if those 120 had opted to not tarry,
would have chosen to not remain in the same place,
would have opted out on praying and obeying?
That scenario might have called even MORE attention than the 120 who were
speaking in other LANGUAGES that they had never learned!
?????? how .. you ask….
I believe that GOD’s SPIRIT would have caused the fulfillment of our LORD’s OBSERVATION
when HE was entering JERUSALEM on the week that HE was CRUCIFIED.
Remember, the CROWDS were so ELATED …..
Luke 19:37-40 (NIV)
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied,
“if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
How many agree that a bunch of rocks screaming praises to GOD would have called more attention than the followers of JESUS did that day?
THE POINT?
The HOLY SPIRIT would have come with PEOPLE present or WITHOUT THEM…
BECAUSE, THE DAY OF PENTECOST,
the exact day of the birth of the CHURCH
was established before the foundation of the earth
o Independently if the disciples were praying or partying
o Independently if the disciples were waiting or waivering
o “ “ were united or divided
o “ “ one place or in 120 separate places…
The DAY OF PENTECOST – the BIRTH of the CHURCH was NOT A PRODUCT OF MAN …
BUT OF GOD….
not in response to MANKIND's obedience or lack thereof but rather
in RESPONSE to HIS SON’S OBEDIENCE!
Jesus also stated, “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH and the gates of hell will not prevail..." WITH YOU or WITHOUT YOU (implied)
APPLICATION for UFCN
The church of JESUS CHRIST will thrive with us or without us.
The church of JESUS CHRIST the NAZARENE
will thrive with the CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE or WITHOUT IT.
The church of JESUS CHRIST THE NAZARENE
will thrive WITH Upland First Church of the NAZARENE
or without us.
THE DECISION, then is ours …if we really want to be a part of the growth of HIS KINGDOM or not.
The ONLY WAY and that we will collectively see KINGDOM growth here is
being FILLED with HIS SPIRIT INDIVIDUALLY and then to pray in agreement COLLECTIVELY!
He will HONOR our individual decisions to be an agent of HIS HANDS, HIS FEET, HIS VOICE
or not!
He will HONOR our collective decision as a local congregation.
IF we insist on
• going OUR WAY,
• making OUR OWN DECISIONS,
• attempting to accomplish SPIRITUAL GOALS through CARNAL METHODOLOGY,
HE WILL HONOR OUR FREEDOM OF CHOICE.
I pray that we at UFCN will collectively and continually opt to allow HIS HOLY SPIRIT to purify our hearts and to empower us to be the most effective lights in THIS PRESENT DARKNESS possible.
For UFCN to be mightily used of GOD…
We must sign on to
• HIS WAY
We must submit to
• HIS LEADERSHIP
We must adopt
• HIS GOALS
We must use
• HIS METHODS
We must maintain
• HIS LORDSHIP
If we submit ourselves totally, BODY, MIND, SOUL and SPIRIT to HIM… and say to HIM,
“LORD, BUILD YOUR KINGDOM through me and COUNT on me …
WHATEVER THE COST!”
He will honor our freedom of CHOICE!
If that is our DAILY collective prayer as a church, the results will simply AMAZE!
PRAISE GOD for a group of around 120 who DECIDED to SURF that first TSUNAMI of the SPIRIT…..
GOD USED THEIR Submission and Obedience TO BEGIN a revolution!!!!!!
In one day … 3000 were converted and BAPTIZED!
Remember the "RAW MATERIAL" that GOD used to accomplish this amazing feat....
o WIMPS that abandoned … our Lord on His way to Calvary
o Schizophrenics like PETER… I’ll DIE…. I don’t know the Man.
o Self-centered egomaniacs arguing who was greatest
In spite of very questionable qualifications,
during those 10 days, 120 men and women
opted to
PLACE the COLLECTIVE GOOD over PERSONAL COMFORT
opted for
UNITY while celebrating UNIQUENESS
opted to focus on the
Common OBJECTIVE rather than on personal OBJECTIONS
I prepared this VIDEO PARABLE to conclude this morning's service.
Observe
How different each surfer was
male and female
How unique each surf board was
Large, small, medium, painted, scratched, colors of the rainbow, some with dozens of
stickers, others … rather simple
And yet, when 110 surfers submitted to one voice
and caught the same wave, the sight was phenomenal.
VIDEO
PRAYER
