There are a lot of reasons why I became a Christian but the main one which drove me above all the rest is that I recognize that we are living in a material world that could only have gotten here as a result of the will, actions and purpose of a creator. In short, I recognize and acknowledge that there is a creator God who is powerful enough and intelligent enough to bring about what we can see in the observable universe. It's a big and complex universe we live in so the creator has to be bigger and more powerful than our universe and He has to possess the intelligence to accomplish it. With this acknowledgement of a creator naturally comes the realization that there was intent and purpose connected to this creation. In short, what does our creator expect out of His creation? The writer of Revelation penned this in chapter 4:11, "...thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Isaiah wrote in 43:7, "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him." Yes God has expectations of His creation and according to Isaiah's inspired words, mankind figures prominently in God's purpose.
Ralph P. Martin wrote that Paul's theology can be summarized in the concept of reconciliation. Getting back to God. David remind us that God created us for a purpose, to live with him, and he has overcome the sin which claimed us and brought us back to himself.
Preached at Highland Heights church in Smyrna TN. I recommend it.
The date wasn't given, but it appears to have been delivered this month. Prefatory remarks on items of local interest are a bit extensive, but the lesson is worth waiting for.
The day was blessed in the churches' meetings. Jorge taught the Bible school this morning on gratitude from the story of the ten lepers. Vagner led the singing; he's become our de facto song leader, if not in name. Adauri led the meditation for the breaking of bread and for the offering. I preached this morning from the prophet Micah, using the verse (2:13) from my article last Monday's Forthright Magazine editorial, but I went a different direction with it, citing four characteristics of God's rescue of his people then, and how those impact us:
The one who can break through barriers will lead them out; they will break out, pass through the gate, and leave.
The title was (translating from Portuguese) "God the Breaker." Here's the outline:[more]
- FUTURE. Micah's prophecy about both God's punishment and his rescue of his people were yet future, sign that God is sovereign, in control of history and our affairs. We speak of providence today. It's a code word to say that God still is working, is still in charge, still moves nations and men and affairs toward the goal he has established. The book of Revelation is kin to Micah's prophecy, painting a picture of suffering and of the need for faithfulness, a message that opens the window to what God is doing in the world, a call to faithfulness to the Lord and his work. "To be sure, my commands bring a reward for those who obey them" (Micah 2:8).
- DIVINE. The series of third-person singular verbs highlights that it was God's action that changed the people's situation. The phrase sometimes used in Portuguese, that a situation can change only by God himself (so Deus mesmo), seems to carry more despair than hope. But God does act, even today, in his people's lives.
- COMPLETE. The Portuguese versions have "opens a way," one translates the phrase as "make an opening." These are very weak for the impact of the verb, which transmits the idea of a complete defeat for the enemy. Much like a brother in Christ who uses explosives to break boulders and rocky ground for buildings or highways. This violent action is God's to overcome, much like the atomic bomb in WWII resulted in unconditional surrender of Japan.
- SUDDEN. Though God does not always act in sudden and quick motions, he does so here. Just as in 2 Kings 7, when, after a long period of siege, God caused the Syrian army camped around Samaria to flee, resulting in the immediate relief of the inhabitants of the city. God may, though there's no guarantee that he will, act in our lives so suddenly and reverse our fortunes, alleviate suffering, provide solutions. We expect things to happen slowly, often expressing doubt at God's power, like the Samaritan king's right-hand man, "even if the Lord made it rain by opening holes in the sky, could this happen so soon?" (2 Kings 7:2).
The outline was nicer in Portuguese, with all the adjectives in the masculine: futuro, divino, completo, repentino.
As usual, we had lunch with Jorge, Paula and Daniel, at the Colinas Mall today, and Rose from Taubate was coming back with them from Sao Paulo. We all came back to the house afterwards, had some tea and cake that Paula had made and brought.
The Taubate meeting was also blessed. Ricardo led singing, Jorge led the communion meditation, Humberto directed the offering, Haroldo read 1 Cor. 13, and I preached from some material I used at the Southern Illinois Preacher's Retreat earlier this month on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I went a bit longer than usual, I never time myself, just preach until I get finished. Leila usually tells me how long I preach afterwards, but she stayed at home this afternoon since she was not feeling well, had the flu last week, and wasn't any better after the ladies' day in Sao Paulo yesterday. She did go to church this morning at SJC, however. She almost never misses either place, unless she's at camp, so everyone asked about her.
At Taubate, we meet in a hotel conference room. Today in an adjoining room, some religious group had loud instrumental music, hand-clapping and loud singing in a sound system, that made it hard at times to concentrate in our meeting. Afterwards, I went and asked if this was going to be a regular thing or one-time. Was relieved to hear the latter.
After a busy weekend for the ladies in Sao Paulo, I nodded on ordering a pizza, so it's getting cold as I write.