Hymn: He's Got the Whole World Bible Passage: Isaiah 40:12-17 12-17 Who has scooped up the ocean in his two hands, or measured the sky between his thumb and little finger, Who has put all the earth's dirt in one of his baskets, weighed each mountain and hill? Who could ever have told God what to do or taught him his business? What expert would he have gone to for advice, what school would he attend to learn justice? What god do you suppose might have taught him what he knows, showed him how things work? Why, the nations are but a drop in a bucket, a mere smudge on a window. Watch him sweep up the islands like so much dust off the floor! There aren't enough trees in Lebanon nor enough animals in those vast forests to furnish adequate fuel and offerings for his worship. All the nations add up to simply nothing before him— less than nothing is more like it. A minus. (The Message Version) 12 神様以外にだれが、手で海を支え、巻き尺で天の大きさを測ったでしょう。 神様以外にだれが、地球の重さと、山や丘の重さを知っているでしょう。13 だれが神の御霊の助言者となり、神様を教え、相談役になったでしょう。14 神様は人間の助言を必要としたでしょうか。 何が正しく、何が最善であるかを知るために、だれかの指示を仰いだでしょうか。15 そんなことは絶対にありません。 人間はだれも、神様と比べたら無に等しく、バケツの中の一滴の水、はかり皿の上のちりにすぎないからです。 神様は島々を、少しも重さのないもののように、いとも軽々と持ち上げます。16 レバノンの森林の木をぜんぶ集めても、神様にふさわしいいけにえを焼くたきぎにも足りません。 そこの獣を一匹残らず集めても、いけにえとするには、とうてい数が足りません。17 すべての国々は、神様の目から見れば無に等しいのです。(リビングバイブル) Introduction - It's good to see you all here today at Hokusei English Chapel. I hope you've been surviving well here at the end of this semester. I know you must be very busy, so let's spend this time together today relaxing and enjoying God's Word. I've been thinking about my topic today for a long time. How big is my God? What does God control? And the answers for these questions are in the song we just sang. Let's use the words of this song and God's Word to understand God better! 1. The Whole World He's got the whole world in His hands. ~ Not only the whole world, but the whole universe is in the palm of His hand! Our Bible passage today, Isaiah 40:12-17, tells us this. God plays with the oceans like we play with water in a bath tub. God can measure the whole sky between His fingers! He can put all the dirt of this Earth in a basket like a child playing in a sandbox! How much power is that? At the end of the Bible part it says, "All the nations add up to simply nothing before him— less than nothing is more like it. A minus." Even if every army of every nation got together against God, they would be like a bunch of ants crawling about! We are less than nothing compared to this great big God! That's kind of scary, don't you think? But let's not stop there. 2. The Tiny Little Baby He's got the tiny little baby in His hands. ~ In my second point, I'd like to share another Bible passage with you, Matthew 10: 29-31. 29 "Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But not one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 He even counts every hair on your head! 31 So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows." (NIRV) Even though He holds the whole universe in His hands, still God knows all the tiny things of this world! Scientists tell us that there are 7 new babies born every second in our world. And God knows each one personally! We are worth so much to God! There are over 35 different species of sparrows (スズメ) in our world. There are so many that we humans cannot count them all! There are billions and billions of them! Though we humans don't know how many, God does! And He sees whenever just one of them falls to the ground! On the average, scientists say there are over one hundred thousand strands of hair on a young adult's head. Blondes average about 140,000 strands, brunettes average 108,000 and redheads average 90,000. And this Bible passage tells us that God knows how many hairs you have on your head! I worry about that every time I take a shower and see how many hairs are in the drain - #271, #1,599, #76,434...! 3. You and Me! He's got you and me in His hands. ~ In my third and last point, let me share one more Bible part, Ephesians 1:4. It reads, "God chose us to belong to Christ before the world was created. He chose us to be holy and without blame in his eyes. He loved us." (NIRV) Before God ever began to create this universe, He knew us. He knew every human of every generation, of every time period. He knew when we would be born and He knows the very moment we will pass away! He knew us completely and decided that we should belong to Christ! He knew just how sinful we were, but because He loved us so much, His Son, the Son of God, Jesus Christ left heaven to come and die for us! Conclusion - Now we know clearly what God's got - He's got... everything! So, where does that leave you and me? If you believe in the Son of God as your savior, then please have much assurance today. This great God is your friend. He knows you and loves you! And what about you my friends who don't know this awesome God yet? Are you still looking for your place in this world? Are you still looking for some meaning in your life? Then I encourage you to come and trust God with all your heart! He created this universe. He created you. And He knows every little thing about you. Come and find happiness and joy in "His Hands" today! Closing Prayer - Dear Lord, thank you ever so much for this chapel time together today. I'm so glad that you have everything under control in all this big universe. I'm also so thankful that you created us and that you love us with an everlasting love. Please Lord, walk with us throughout the rest of this day and help us to feel true security in Your Hands. And I pray all these things now, in Jesus' precious name, Amen. * * * * *
May the Lord who gives peace give you peace at all times and in every way. May the Lord be with all of you. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
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Yesterday was a truly "red letter" day because the Lord answered two of my prayers! First, my wife has been studying hard to pass a test in an Excel computer class that she's been attending. She's been staying up late in the evenings to cram for this test. And each evening as I was going to bed I would pray for her, "God, as you did for Solomon, give my lovely wife a double portion of wisdom for the exam." Yesterday she had a chance to take a sample test to see if she might be ready for the real thing coming up in a couple of weeks. Upon picking her up after work, she announced in the car that fairly effortlessly she had passed the sample test! We rejoiced right there and then for God's gracious answer to prayer! Then second, yesterday was my long-awaited 1st day-off at the beginning of my summer vacation. I had ensconced myself on the sofa and was enjoying reading some sweet Bible tidbits from my FB News Feed. The chat window popped up with a message from a Sapporo friend I have known for many years. (^v^) As we began to chat, he shared that he wasn't doing well at all and referred me to his newest blog page that he had just written. I was amazed to read that his mental condition had lingered badly like this for months! I immediately felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to share with him a scripture passage about Jesus healing the possessed man (Mark 5). I then wrote out a heartfelt prayer for his healing and popped it back to him in the chat box. Little by little, as we chatted over the next several hours, God laid His healing hand on my friend and completely removed his depression! This morning he exclaimed to me in a message that he had slept better last night than he had in months! God had removed his depression! Last night and again this morning, he and I both thanked God again and again for His marvelous healing power! I continue to pray for both my wife and my friend that the Lord Jesus would make Himself so real to them in the days ahead! I know my God has all power and He will lead these two special people to believe in Jesus with all of their hearts! He loves them more than I ever could! "Dear Lord, bless these two dear ones with salvation that can only comes through you! In Jesus name I pray, Amen! m(__)m Jesus Can and Does Do Miracles! I know ~ I Have Seen Them!
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About This PageThis is my personal space to share my messages and thoughts about Hokusei English Chapel and the things that God brings in to my life. Archives
October 2015
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