Senior Leadership

Yesterday morning we had an online meeting of the ACEV senior leadership team in preparation for our general conference which starts next Friday. The meeting lasted nearly 2 hours and was very positive.

Last night I took the 25 minute drive to Green Pastures with 18 km on tarmac and 3 km on an earth track. It was to lead and preach at the weekly service that I take there with wonderful simple farming folk whom I love. It was a lovely service. I saw there the usual tree frogs, toads and Burrowing Owls. 

Jeremiah 4 (résumé): Disaster from the North

Jeremiah 4 is a powerful prophecy concerning the imminent judgement of God from the north, calling on God's people to repent whilst there is opportunity. Initially we read: "If you will return, O Israel, return to me... break up your unplowed ground (prepare your hearts for change)... circumcise your hearts (prepare yourselves for a deep spiritual change and not just external ritual)... or my wrath will break out!" Then comes a severe warning of "disaster from the north (Babylon)... a destroyer of nations has set out... your towns will lie in ruin... look he advances like the clouds, his chariots come like whirlwind... wash the evil from your hearts and be saved... a besieging army is coming from a distant land... your own conduct has brought this upon you." Then Jeremiah expresses his anguish at the imminent devastation of Judah: "Oh my anguish. I writhe in pain... disaster follows disaster... I looked at the earth and it was formless and empty... there were no people... the birds have gone... the land was a desert... the whole land will be ruined... all the towns are deserted... I hear the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath!

Jeremiah 3 (résumé): Unfaithful Israel

Jeremiah 3 sees God's condemnation of Israel and Judah for spiritual adultery through idolatry. "You have lived as a prostitute with many lovers... you have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness... you have the brazen look of a prostitute and don't even blush with shame." So God sent a call to repentance offering mercy: "Return faithless people declares the Lord!  For I am your husband... How gladly would I treat you like sons... but like a woman unfaithful to her husband you have been unfaithful to me... they have perverted their ways and forgotten the Lord... Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding." Then the people acknowledged their sin and said: "Surely in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel... from our youth shameful gods have consumed us... we have sinned against the Lord."

Film

Yesterday morning I was filmed by a professional film crew talking about the origins and history of the work here as the crew is making a film about our school up in the mountains at Matureia which is going wonderfully well. The film will be shown at a Film Festival and is a great opportunity for the Gospel.

I have just received the annual review of 'A Rocha' which is a Christian environmental organization to which Green Pastures is linked as a 'friend of A Rocha'.

I have prepared a new sermon on Isaiah 35: 'The Joy of the Redeemed' to be preached on June 7th. Preachers - if you've never preached on this chapter I highly recommend it! I will be preaching tonight on John 8:12 + 23 at Green Pastures.

Jeremiah 2 (résumé): Israel forsakes God

 Jeremiah 2 presents God's charges against Israel for their abandonment as they involved themselves in outright paganism and idolatry, exchanging God's living water for their own broken cisterns! God says: "I remember the devotion of your youth... Israel was holy to the Lord... but they followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves... you came and defiled my land... the prophets prophesied by Baal... therefore I bring charges against you... my people have exchanged their glory for worthless idols!" Then the text goes on to define two specific sins of Israel. First of all the forsaking of God's living water which is God himself, and secondly the creating of broken cisterns that cannot hold water which represent the political international alliances as with Assyria and Egypt, instead of depending on the Lord. God asks: "why go to Egypt to drink water... or why go to Assyria for water too? Your backsliding will rebuke you!" God goes on to reprimand Israel for its unfaithfulness: "You lay down like a prostitute... How can you say I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals?... you are like a wild donkey on heat!... as a thief is disgraced when he is caught so Israel is disgraced... they have turned their backs on me... you have as many gods as you have towns O Judah!... Does a bride forget her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me!... you will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria!"

Mid-week meeting

I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study last night and Fire Fighter Romildo brought the study on Titus chapter 1. The praise was led by Erika, Netinho and Rogaciano with solos from Espedita and Vasti as usual. We also had a good time of prayer together as well as the sharing of blessed Bible portions which was good. We praise God for all his blessings.

Conclusion

Yesterday I concluded the synopsis of the 66 chapters of Isaiah which is the largest prophetic book in the Bible. It's a great feeling and a real blessing. Now it's the 52 chapters of Jeremiah!

The 'Life Squad' ministered in the Patos Men's Prison yesterday afternoon and 2 men made commitments to Christ. May God bless them and transform them for his glory.