The Blueprint & Function of the Church - Pastor Jesse Soto

That's one of the other controversies that has to do with speaking in tongues in the church.

The scripture says in speaking on this controversy, it says, Therefore, if the whole church comes together, and all speak with tongues, unbelievers will come in, people with no understanding will come in.

And he says, They're going to say that you are crazy.

This is how they interpret it.

That the whole church should not speak in tongues.

But really, what the Apostle Paul was addressing here.

For example, if you're a witness of a fight that broke out in maybe you were at a store, a local store.

A fight.

And you go and tell the story to somebody else.

And you're like, everybody was fighting.

But the reality is there was only a few people that were fighting.

But when you repeat that story, you're saying it for emphasis.

And so Paul is saying if everybody is speaking in tongues.

But he was emphasizing the fact that there wasn't an order in the church.

Because later he says when you come together, everybody should have a word, should have a tongue, should have an interpretation, but let everything be done decently and in order.

So what he's correcting is the disorder.

In fact, if you look in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit first fell on the church, the Bible says that all of them were speaking in other languages.

The Holy Spirit fell upon them.

And the Bible says they began to speak in tongues.

And they weren't in a church building like we are in today.

And someone in the car might say, look out! And I go, ah! There was nothing.

And so Paul is overcorrecting to bring them into balance.

And so I wanted to address that, and we'll address a few more things as we go.

Not today, but next week.

This book is the breath of life.

The breath, is there another page?

Oh, the breath you're saying.

You can open it at any page.

And if your heart is open to the Lord at that moment, you'll receive the life of Jesus inside of you.

Not only his light, but his life.

Encouragement if you need encouragement.

It's filled with everything that we need.

And so let's begin by saying this.

That the Bible is the strongest asset that you and I have.

If we're going to live fulfilled lives as believers, you and I as Christians, we should live fulfilled lives.

That's what the Word of God does for us.

God's Word is our ultimate advantage in life.

That's why it's good to have it on the inside.

It's part of our spiritual armor.

Look at 2 Timothy 3.16 before we go further.

Oh, here you go.

I'm sorry.

I got both of them.

Okay.

Thank you.

Look at what it says.

All scripture, can you say that?

All scripture.

Is given by inspiration of God.

The original says God breathed.

In other words, every time that God speaks, it's like us.

When we speak, we use our breath.

And so it's inspired by God.

It's profitable, it's good for doctrine, for teaching.

For reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

So everything that we face in life, the word of God is profitable for us.

It's called the sword of the spirit.

And our armor also talks about the helmet of salvation.

And so it's the word of God.

It not only is defensive, but it's offensive.

We can use it to defeat our enemies or to experience peace.

In the presence of opposition.

Sometimes we get confused with that.

We think peace is only when everything is good.

But the scripture says the Lord of peace.

That means he's always at peace.

That means you and I can always be at peace because we're connected with him.

Look at this interesting passage in John 16 33.

He's speaking to his disciples right before he's about to be crucified.

Interesting that he chooses peace above everything else.

He didn't say that in me you might have abundance.

We want abundance with peace.

I've overcome the world.

And I can show you how to step into that victory.

So Jesus speaks of peace and turmoil in the very same breath.

In the same breath.

When we order our lives according to this book, the Word of God.

All the days of our lives.

How many have bad days?

You and I can experience a steady flow of his peace.

When we're experiencing in the good times or bad times.

Look at Hebrews 4.16.

Actually, it should be Hebrews 4.12.

Hebrews 4 12.

Give you one more scripture on peace first.

Psalm 119 165.

I don't want to leave this one out.

Watch this.

Great peace.

Not just peace, great peace.

Great peace have they which love your law or your word.

And nothing shall offend them.

Nothing shall trip them up.

And so we're promised great peace.

Great peace.

Even when we should not experience it.

Tell him again.

Great peace have they that love my word.

Thank you, Lord.

And so we can find peace in turmoil.

Because he is our peace.

The Bible is also a living document.

Look at Hebrews 4.12.12.

For the word of God is quick or alive.

And sharper than any two-edged sword.

And of the joints and marrow.

When we go and spend time with the Lord and we open his word, it's so sharp that our motivations are exposed.

Maybe we're praying about a situation where somebody offended us.

And we start saying, Lord, this person did this and did that.

The word of God begins to cut.

And begins to divide our heart and our soul.

And we begin to see the bigger picture.

And instead of saying, Lord, chop that person in two.

For the word of God is alive and sharp.

It divides our thoughts.

It discerns the beautiful thing about God's word is that when it comes and starts to cut us up.

Instead of getting bitter, instead of getting mad and saying, Man, there's gotta be another scripture.

That's not the right one.

He begins to cut us up.

But instead of us rebelling, that word and that sword begins to tenderise us like a good stake.

It just tenderized and we say, Oh Lord, forgive me.

And suddenly we have a love in a heart for that person.

And forgiveness begins to flow.

And maybe it was their fault.

But because Jesus is on the inside of us, forgiveness begins to flow toward them.

Like Jesus on the cross said, Father, forgive them.

And he had every right, he had every right to say, God, destroy these people.

You know I'm innocent.

But he said, Father, forgive them.

There's some of you here today that need to let that forgiveness flow to other people.

Those who hurt you, those who offended you.

We don't realize it as human beings sometimes.

But when we hold on to that hurt and that bitterness, it's actually affecting us more than affecting that person.

Let that forgiveness flow toward them right now.

Just whisper that name to the Lord.

Just say, Maria.

Then the Lord will know which Maria.

Which Mary Maria.

Thank you, Lord.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

The Bible is a living document.

So when you open it, it's not just like any other book.

If you'll say Holy Spirit, open my heart.

Speak to me, Lord.

It'll become living to you.

The Bible was breathed by God.

But it was written by man.

But because it came from the breath of God, that means that God was right there directing their thoughts.

It was inspired.

God breathed.

So when he says to Jeremiah, write this.

He's right next to Jeremiah.

The breath of God is there.

So Jeremiah can get it right.

That's why we can depend on the Word of God today.

And now Jesus is also called the Word of God.

So when you and I look into the scriptures, when we open the Bible, you know what we're doing?

We're looking at Jesus.

That's why we say, Lord Jesus, speak to me right now.

And the word of God who is Jesus begins to transform us.

As we spend time in his word, his presence, his glory begins to transform us.

We have to be willing to sit and linger a little bit.

And wait until we hear him speak.

The Bible says something interesting in the Gospels.

When we come to the Lord, we ought to come first, we ought to come early.

I think when we come with that attitude, we'll hear his voice.

But sometimes we, when we say, Lord, speak to me.

And so we miss it.

I remember one time talking to an individual that was asking me questions.

And I was giving him, man, the best answers.

Awesome, great.

But he wasn't hearing what he wanted to hear.

And so he kept asking the same question over and over.

And I kept giving him the same answer.

But in the wisdom of God.

I just presented it different every time, but it was the same answer.

Ah, but he wasn't hearing.

Because he wasn't hearing what he wanted to hear.

So we don't want to make that mistake when we go to the word of God.

Say, Lord, speak to me.

Speak to me what's in here.

Not what I want to hear.

You got that?

And then that word will transform us.

We gotta be willing to sit and listen, though.

And you say, Well, I don't have that kind of time.

We'll just make that make a little space, carve out.

Somebody said, carve out some space.

If nothing more, when you're here, be present.

Listen, say, Lord, speak to me.

Speak to me while those crazy guys are preaching from up there.

We're just regular guys, but the Lord speaks through us.

And sometimes you're sitting there sent out and all of a sudden you hear the word of God in a different way.

It's the Lord speaking directly to your heart and mind at that moment.

And so if you practice listening in the house of God, you'll get hungrier for the voice of God.

Lord, I want to hear your voice, not only in church, but when I'm at home.

It's a living document.

You'll discover the peace of God.

But not only the peace of God.

You'll discover and find the Prince of Peace who is Jesus.

In Psalm 63.

Verses one and two will do a little bit before we come in for a landing.

What time is it?

Oh God, you are my God.

That's a good way to start prayer.

Oh God, you are my God.

Just remind yourself.

David would remind himself of things.

He would say, Bless the Lord, O my soul.

And don't forget all of his benefits.

Oh God, you are my God.

Early will I seek you.

Not just early in the morning.

Watch this.

But early when the problem hits.

Early will I seek you.

When I get that phone call, when I get the bad news, early, first I will seek you first.

We're so good with technology these days, some of us that when bad news hits us, we go to Google.

Early will I seek Google.

Early will I seek you, Lord.

In other words, I'll seek you first.

Why?

Because my soul thirsteth for thee.

I thirst for you, Lord.

My flesh it longs for you.

In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.

That's the attitude.

When we come before the Lord and his word, Lord, I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, I need you.

Speak to me.

And you'll watch Jesus jump out of the pages of Scripture.

Not literally, but you'll feel his life and power inside of you.

You won't want to leave that place.

So make sure you have plenty of time when you do that.

It transforms us.

Look at 2 Peter 1.19.

Before we come in for a landing.

Watch this.

We also have a more sure word of prophecy.

How many like prophecies?

How many like people that come and tell you, hey, God wants to do this, that, and the other in your life.

I remember for a long time.

Everybody would get a prophecy except me.

And I was like, I want a prophecy, I want a prophecy.

But look at this.

We have a more sure word of prophecy.

We have a greater word than a prophecy than a prophet might give us.

And it would be good for you to take heed, he says.

Take time.

Read it, eat it, meditate it.

Until the day star arises in your heart.

Jesus.

Until Jesus arises from the letters of Scripture.

The word shines into the dark places of our lives.

Those dark places where we have blind spots.

Where we think we're good, but we're not.

The light shines and we say, oh, I didn't know that about me.

Maybe it's more than just our soul and our personality.

Maybe there are dark places in our life that we have ignored that have caused us to be stumped in our spiritual growth.

We go forward and then we come back.

Forward and back, forward and back.

Those are dark areas in our life that we haven't allowed Jesus to come in and shine his light upon it.

Once the light shines, darkness has to go.

Whether it's bondage, whether it's hurt from the past or bitterness that has us in a hard place today.

Causes us to live and have attitudes that keep us in a spiritual place that is not progressing.

Stay until Jesus arises from the scriptures.

Until the day dawns.

What happens when the day dawns?

There was a song they used to sing, I forget who used to sing this one.

But it some of you might remember, I can see clearly now.

Look at Angie.

She's even moving.

I can see clearly.

But what happens when the light of day shows up?

You can see clearly.

So when the day dawns from reading the word of God, it means this.

You might not see the whole picture.

We live in an area where they just keep it really dark for some reason.

They like it dark.

And so you come outside before the day dawns.

And it is dark.

And one day I came out a little later.

And there was a coyote running right down the street.

But before dawn, I wouldn't be able to see that.

But when the day dawns, you come out skipping and running and sales bringando y corriendo.

Not a care in the world.

I can see clearly.

Clarity where there's confusion.

And then it says the day star arises in our hearts.

And so when we're in God's word, we not only hear his voice.

The Bible says that Jesus is the face of the glory of God.

And Jesus is the living word.

So when the day start arises in our hearts, we experience the glory and the presence of God.

And sometimes it spills over and fills the room.

When we linger in his presence, the day star will arise in our heart.

The word becomes flesh.

And that's what elevates us.

Because the word of God suddenly becomes alive.

And we're seeing the things in life.

The problems, the obstacles, and all of a sudden it elevates us above the circumstances of life.

The God of the universe put on human form.

So what does that mean in Scripture?

He becomes flesh to us.

And becomes relevant to everything we need.

And we can find him in the pages of Scripture.

If we'll take our time and say, Lord Jesus, speak to me today.

The Holy Spirit needs our help.

The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter.

The comforter means one who comes alongside to help, not to do everything.

And you say, Oh, let me help you.

And all of a sudden they start slowing down and letting you do all the work.

The Holy Spirit comes alongside not to do everything for us, not for us, but to help us along the way.

You know that he will limit his movement in our life.

Based on our willingness to participate.

But we have the master key maest so that we can walk in peace all the days of our life.

It's in this book.

The yap?

Who said it?

What is it?

Yap?

The yapo.

It's a little it's a little different Bible.

But it still will be ineffective.

If I don't sit and linger in the Word of God for a while.

To read it, to eat it.

To meditate it.

But meditate also means to speak it.

When we confess and speak the word of God, we're agreeing with what we read.

With what we're hearing.

And that's what begins to change us into his image.

And it elevates us to a new level.

Of his glory and of his presence.

It's all in this simple book.

When we confess the word of God when we declare it over our lives, you know what we're doing?

It's a direct response to his word.

We're saying, Yes, I believe that.

Paul said, I believed.

Therefore have I spoken.

That's the spirit of faith.

When the glory and the presence of God hits your life, you begin to say some things and speak some things that you wouldn't in the natural.

You wouldn't ordinarily have that kind of hope and faith.

But the word of God and the glory of God and the presence of God overwhelms you.

And you begin to say things that are in the heart of God for your life.

You begin to say something.

Suddenly the spirit of faith takes over.

Because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

And when Jesus speaks that word to you, you begin to speak like He would speak.

Your heart aligns itself with the heart of heaven for you.

God has nothing but good.

But at the end of the day, He says all things work together for good.

And He's directing our steps.

Sometimes it doesn't look like we know what we're doing or where we're going.

Not because I need a word.

But because I need to hear your voice.

I want to hear you today, Lord.

That's the attitude that we have before the Lord.

And slowly but surely.

Things that we've brought upon ourselves.

But the Lord said, That's alright, I can turn that ship too.

Would you bow your heads for a moment?

Have the leaders come.