The Body

While in Yerevan Armenia, we partnered with Yerevan International Church. If you have ever been to an International Church, then you know the wonder and awe you have as you observe people from all over the world. People with different cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities and languages being unified by the spirit to be the body of Christ. 

We arrived on Easter and we were met with a huge diverse congregation. As the service started, the pastor asked the congregation to take turns and say “Jesus Christ is Risen, Hallelujah!” in your own native language. Armenian, Georgian, Persian, Indian, German, African, Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish, Arabic, English and even more all praising and worshiping God. 

“And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” – Daniel 7:14

I saw before my eyes the glimpse of heaven, where every tribe, nation and tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. (Revelation 7:9)

Then it only got better….. “Let’s wait on the Holy Spirit”, one of the worship leaders declared as we were worshiping. The leader created a space that if anyone had a word of knowledge, prophecy, encouragement, or felt like a healing needed to happen would stand up as the rest of the church remained quiet and received. I don’t think I have seen a large church do such a good job with allowing the Holy Spirit to come and move with order, not confusion. 

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.” – 1 Corinthians 14:33 

Words, prophecy, and pictures were shared that aligned to the Word of God and resonated deeply with the congregation and myself. It was encouraging to see such a large congregation do this correctly and with so much love. We felt at home by the welcoming of the church, challenged by the teaching, and equipped with more ways to advance the Kingdom of God. 

Lastly, the sweet cherry on top to this experience was hearing how many people come and go. Yes that’s right, so many people leave and so many people were new just like us. It’s a diverse church with people all over the world who are still moving and traveling the world or going back to their country. Yet, it felt like they have all known each other for years. Yet, they gave all of themselves and they didn’t have to have years and years of friendship for the Lord to move. I realized that was the work of the Holy Spirit and the obedience of the church to say “Yes, I will wait on the Holy Spirit and do what Paul saids to do in 1 Corinthians.” 

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. – 1 Corinthians 12:7-14

I was honored to be a part of this church family  while I could for the month and be able to serve the church as well through kids ministry. I received impartation from this church and will continue to impart on others what I experienced and learned including you. 

Now, let’s wait on the Holy Spirit.