45th International Bible ConferenceJuly 27, 2013The Power of God at Work behind HistoryThe conditions need to be right even for just one single tree to grow. As it grows, a tree may have to face gales and drought, rain and snow, and if the environmental conditions are not adequate, it will cannot survive. If we look at the history of the Israelites as it is presented in the Old Testament, we can see that within that history they suffered through a variety of hardships, including droughts and even floods. We consider it a matter of course that we should gather together to discuss and establish various plans, just as it is a matter of course for the sun to rise in the morning and set in the evening. Yet, when we consider the history of the Israelites as depicted in the Bible, we find things are not quite such a matter of course. At present we find ourselves in a specific situation and a specific position in a specific month of a specific year. All the conversations I had with brothers and sisters, and all the conversations I will have with them in the future do not simply arise in one particular moment in time; they stem from somewhere within a long period of time. Let’s think about this long period of time. Painters, and photographers may go to the mountains or the sea to draw a wonderful picture or to take an impressive photograph. Then, people view these artworks and perceive them as beautiful. If we look at a photograph taken in May 1960, for example, we might feel that nature at that time was really beautiful. When we look at a masterpiece painted a long time ago, our thoughts may go back to those times. There are people in this world whose thinking remains on a superficial level, but there are also those who are able to let their thoughts extend to what is behind a work of art. When we read and think about the Bible, however, we need to be able to let our thoughts go back over a much longer period of time than that demanded of any artwork. The picture of our present “reality” depicts us gathered here, listening to the Bible, having fellowship and allowing various thoughts to pass through our minds. This picture has been formed by a combination of all such pictures that I have seen in the past and even those I have not seen. My present condition, the circumstances that surround me, the things that happen to me as an individual, and all the things that are happening to us all together may seem two-dimensional right at this moment, but behind all these things, there are uncountable matters and a power beyond our imagination at work. We cannot deny this. When cancer is discovered in someone’s body, the tumour did not form the moment it was discovered. We do not know when the tumour formed, but the current state of that person’s body reflects the food he has eaten in the course of his life, the environment in which he has lived, and the way in which he has taken care of his body.Similarly, if we trace back all of the events that have happened to us, the events before that, and the events even before that, it will lead us to one specific day. The Bible says there was a first day, on which “God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good” (see Genesis 1:3-5). That first day is by no means unrelated to us. The numerous accounts recorded in the Old Testament—the incidents within the history of the Israelites—that history itself and the accounts of the many prominent figures who came to the fore within that history are by no means unrelated to the state of the spirit and flesh of each of us individually, the state of all those around us, and all the situations we discuss and the work with which we proceed. This is the point I am trying to make. The Bible clearly explains that the Church began with Jesus Christ and began to be built up into one body through the apostles. The New Testament, however, cannot be discussed without mention of the history of the Old Testament. Even in the first verse of Matthew chapter 1 in the New Testament, it says, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” It talks about the Old Testament.When we consider all this, we come to ask ourselves whether our discussions regarding some task we are planning and our Bible studies are merely necessary for us right now as individuals; have they been given to us just for the sake of the present moment. We do not know when the world will come to an end, but there are times that are approaching us, and the way we are today, as individuals and as a group, will effect the way we are tomorrow and thereafter. We should not think only of the time that has passed; all the time that has passed, the time we spend today in what we call the present, and the time that we will face in the future are by no means unrelated. The Relationship between the Spirit and the FleshLet’s read Amos chapter 8 from verse 11 to verse 13.“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it. In that day the fair virgins and strong young men shall faint from thirst.”Amos gives a clear account of how the Israelites were regarded by the nations surrounding the land of Canaan, where the Israelites lived. Within this account, the above passage stands out as somewhat extraordinary. God said He would send a famine on the land, but not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water. He spoke of eating and drinking, but this famine was to be one of hearing the word of God. The matters of eating, drinking and the hunger of the spirit are all addressed in one verse. No one can keep their physical body in a consistently stable state. At times, our bodies appear to be healthy, and then at other times, they decline to a point at which we wonder if we have a disease of some sort. The body has its ups and downs like a rollercoaster; it can go up, continue for a while and then drop suddenly. This is how we live our entire lives. Our physical condition may change even within one day if we skip a meal, for example. Sometimes only a drop of water will satisfy our hunger. In such cases, it is not that we are hungry but thirsty, and the body is unable to distinguish between the two. Our bodies are continually going through such changes in condition. But isn’t there a connection between the condition of our flesh that we are able to see and touch and the condition of our spirits? I have been thinking about whether the image of my body might perhaps be similar to that of my inner self that I cannot see. I definitely think the matters of the spirit are connected to those of the flesh, and I would like to set this as a premise before continuing. Of course, that is not to say that in order for the spirit to be saved the flesh must be saved also. Earlier, we spoke about history, so let’s go back to it now. When we read Old Testament books like Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon and Lamentations, we come across descriptions of the righteous person, the wicked person and the foolish person. The words of the Preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes warn us to search for God before it is too late, and this may sound like some philosophical idea. There are many verses in the Bible that give us answers, such as, “Love … is kind; love does not envy.” (see 1 Corinthians 13:4) Apart from these books, however, the Old Testament is an account of historical events. It is a record of a whole series of events that took place. The Bible gives an account of the history of the Jews, which reads in a way not unlike the epic historical novel entitled, “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”. So then, how are we to take these historical accounts and view them as words that God is addressing to us individually, words that can give us guidance in our individual lives? When you read about historical events in the Bible, how do you understand them? When it comes to food for the spirit, we need to be careful that we do not consider only the passages that we find elegant and refined. In the letter to the Hebrews it says, “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (4:12). As we look back in time through the Bible we read today, we find we are introduced to the history of the Israelites, but before that there was the creation of man, and then we have an image of God who existed before that in the form of the Word. We need to acknowledge that even these historical accounts are food for the spirit given to us by God. It is our duty to do this. As we examine the Bible, we come across various incidents that occurred along the journeys of life of the figures who appear in the Old Testament. All these things are recorded in order that God might breathe into our hearts the seed of life. This is something that needs to be considered both by those who have been born again through the Bible and those who have not, since it is related to our fundamental attitude when we approach the Bible before God. Can you say you know everything because you were saved decades ago? When you read the Old Testament, you need to acknowledge that it

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