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Go To Meeting
Roy Assanti—July 17, 2021
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It is fascinating to look back into history, and a lot of what I say will probably be revision, but it's incredible to look at the way things are. To just stand back and think, consider and contemplate what is happening.
Science today is imaginary guess work. We see bones of dinosaurs, Cro-Magnon man, whatever. We see these things and the world teaches its own history. It's all around us.
When we look at God's Word, it's a little bit of a different story. The Truth is the truth! 'Thy Word is Truth!' It's not imaginary guesswork. Looking back before anything existed
Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form and void…" (vs 1-2)—or became 'tohu' and 'bohu' that means: waste, empty confusion. It seems like only water covered the earth. It says that something happened.
Hebrews 2:3: "How shall we escape, if we have neglected so great a salvation; which was first received when it was spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him; God also bearing witness with them by both signs and wonders, and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? For it is not to the angels…[the spirit creations of God!] …that He has placed in subjection the world that is to come, of which we are speaking" (vs 3-5).
There is world that is going to be put under subjection that we're looking at here.
Verse 6: "But in a certain place one fully testified, saying, 'What is man…?'"
- Where did we come from?
- Why?
Look around you at this world
- Did it just happen?
All worlds—planets—that we see are virtually dead, no life!
"'…that You are mindful of him, or the son of man, that You visit him?….. [Why the big deal?] …You did make him a little lower than the angels; You did crown him with glory and honor, and You did set him over the works of Your hands; You did put all things in subjection under his feet.'…. [the universe] …For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that was not subjected to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him" (vs 6-8)—which virtually means the universe, everything that exists!
Verse 9: "But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor on account of suffering the death, in order that by the grace of God He Himself might taste death for everyone."
Jesus tasted death so that all could live, or have the opportunity to live.
Verse 10: "Because it was fitting for Him, for Whom all things… [the universe that exists] …were created, and by Whom all things exist, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Author of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
The Apostle John was inspired to give a little bit more information.
John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word… [the Spokesperson, the 'Logos'] …and the Word was with the God… [this Spokesperson was Jesus Christ] …and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things… [the universe, everything that exists] …came into being through Him…"
We're going to take a look at the universe and how great, and the size is almost beyond imagination! We're so infinitesimally small in comparison to this incredible universe that is about us. We can never fathom how big it is.
"…and not even one thing that was created came into being without Him" (v 3).
Dan. 12:4 says that at the time of the end, when everything is happening, only now does mankind possess the power to actually destroy the earth. All out war is a possibility, but should not be contemplated because of the destructiveness of nuclear warfare; we would just destroy ourselves.
Daniel 12:4: "…knowledge shall be increased."
It's increased also in the sky. There are satellites in the sky, eyes in the sky, that can actually see far more than the naked eye can see. We can see right into the vastness of space, the vastness of the creation, only at this time when knowledge has increased.
Let's consider the size of the heavenly bodies that exist. Let's have a look, a little bit of journey here. The largest known stars UY-Scuti {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3vWfR-TB0s}, and it's apparently a hyper-giant with a radius of around 1,700 times larger than the radius of our sun—the star lies in the center of the Milky Way, our galaxy—roughly 9,500 light years away from us.
Many of know what a light years is, but I'll state it for the fact: light travels at 186,000 miles per second, or 300,00 kilometers per second. That's the speed of light. When we say a light year, for every second traveling at that speed for a year is one light year. Imagine 300,00km or 186,000 miles every second.
- 60 seconds per minute
- 3,600 per hour
- multiplied by 24
- multiplied by 365
That's quite a distance!
If this star—UY-Scuti—was in the position of our sun, where our sun is now, it would easily swallow the Earth, and it would come out even further on the way to Mars, but certainly would go past the Earth. Absolutely incredible!
Our galaxy or cluster of stars is about 100,000 light years from end to end. The latest research tells us that it actually double that size.
Now, about the known universe. How big is everything? How vast is it? When we look up in the sky, how vast is it without learned eyesight and so on, but with technology we can see a little bit further. The known universe from end to end in any direction, is 46.5 billion light years!
- How small are we?
- How vast is this creation that God has made?
In our galaxy, the Milky Way, there are between 100-400 billion (million million) stars! Some larger than our sun, some smaller. One hundred to four hundred million million of these massive heavenly bodies!
The Andromeda Galaxy that is observed has 1,000-billion stars! It's just mind-boggling! How many of these galaxies are there that are known? How many galaxies are out there? We mentioned two, ours and the Andromeda. Look at the size!
The deeper we look into this Cosmos, the more galaxies we see. One study in 2016 estimated that the observable universe—through eyes in the sky—contains 2-trillion galaxies with all those stars {https://phys.org/news/2017-01-universe-trillion-galaxies.html}.
Numbers begin to lose their meaning. How great is the creation that God has made?
One of the things we haven't looked at is the planets. Our solar system and our sun has apparently nine planets if you count Pluto, the very last (sometimes it's not counted).
The English language has 170,000 words that are used. There are more archaic words that are not used, but 170,000 words. Just bear that in mind. Let's consider God's perspective:
Isaiah 40:12: "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out the heavens with a span?…." A span is your hand! We're talking about the heavens!
"…And who has comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, and who was His counselor that he might instruct Him?" (vs 12-13). 'Who is going to teach Me,' says God!
Verse 14: "With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him and taught Him in the path of judgment…"
- right/wrong
- what works/what doesn't work
- the way to live/the way not to live
- peace/trouble
- harmony
"…and taught Him knowledge…" (v 14).
How many years do we have to go to the university to become a professor of whatever.
"…and made known the way of understanding to Him? Behold, the nations…" (vs 14-15).
Now we're growing a little bit. All the nations today and the power that they have in military, in industry and so on.
"…are like a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the scales… [won't even move the scale compared to God's perspective] …behold, He takes up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts of it sufficient for a burnt offering" (vs 15-16). Now it's almost as if God changes His mind:
Verse 17: "All nations before Him are as nothing; and they are counted by Him as less than nothing, and vanity."
- What are we talking about?
- What kind of power?
- How does God describe His power and His might, reach and understanding?
Verse 25[transcriber's correction]: "'To whom then will you compare Me, or who is My equal?' says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold, Who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number?…. [numbers have lost meaning as we look at it] …He calls them all by names…" (vs 25-26).
All the hosts; we've only looked at the stars. What about the planets? Innumerable! Innumerable as the stars and more!
"…by the greatness of His might…" (v 26).
As I mentioned, the English language has 170,000 words.
- What kind of power does our Creator God have?
- Does He know us when we seek to ask Him, petition Him for something?
- Does He know what we think?
- Does He know our situation?
- If He knows all this, will He answer?
He knows! It's a matter of the heart!
"…for He is strong in power… [an understatement] …not one fails" (v 26). In other words, He's in control of His creation!
It still boggles the mind that one of the largest stars that has been observed in our Milky Way if placed where the sun is, the sun a dot compared to it. It would engulf everything to the Earth and even go farther.
- How enormous?
- How massive?
To bring that into being, create! That's only a small matter compared to the size of the creation!
Verse 27: "Why do you say, O Jacob, and O Israel you speak, 'My way is hidden from the LORD and my cause is disregarded by my God?'"
This is Me [God], and you think I don't know what's going on? You think I don't understand?
We need to apply that individually! We can, obviously, and we should to our lives. Do we think He doesn't know what's going on?
Verse 28: "Have you not known? Have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not grow weak nor weary? And His understanding no one can fathom. He gives power to the weary…" (vs 28-29). What an encouragement!
"…and to him with no might, He increases strength" (v 29). What encouragement! What hope!
Think about the greatness of God and how little and puny problems really are. The problem is that we're so small, but we can draw upon this tremendous Resource of Power!
Matthew 9:28: "And after coming into the house, the blind men came to Him; and Jesus said to them, 'Do you believe that I have the power to do this?' They said to Him, 'Yes, Lord.' Then He touched their eyes, saying, 'According to your faith be it to you.'… [as you believe and trust Me] …And their eyes were opened…."(vs 28-30).
We understand the greatness and power of God, His true power. Yet:
- Do we think that He has the compassion to hear?
- To understand?
- To intervene in our lives?
- Is there anything too hard for God?
Whatever we might ask or need, there's nothing that He can't do! Is anything too difficult for Him?
Genesis 18:12: "Therefore, Sarah laughed…" I'm barren and He's going to tell me that I can have a child. Call your son 'Laughter' and you'll always remember it! That's the way it went.
What about us? We scratch our heads and think, is this going to be possible? God might delay, but He gives what is right for us and fulfills His promises. The same thing applies to you and me!
Genesis 18:11: "Now, Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in days, and it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women." The evidence is here that it 'ain't gonna happen.'
Verse 12: "Therefore, Sarah laughed within herself, saying, 'After I have become old… [in her mind] …shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?' And the LORD said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I, who am old, truly bear a child?'" (vs 12-13).
Then this is what God would say—the Father and Christ—to you and me:
Verse 14: "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return again, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.'" She never forgot that she laughed, because that's what she had to call her son!
Verse 15: "Then Sarah denied, saying, 'I did not laugh'… [pretty hard of us to come clean] …for she was afraid. And He [God] said, 'No, but you did laugh.'"
- Do we also deny God's power in our lives?
- To answer?
- To help?
- To provide?
- To guide?
- To direct?
- To hear our cries?
These are the questions that come up from the Scriptures!
- Do we believe what God is saying?
God is great, lofty, high!
- What impresses God?
God is so great and made these incredible things!
- What would impress Him?
- What can we do that would impress God?
- Could we do something?
- Could we make something?
- What impresses God?
This tremendously powerful Creator that He's revealing Himself to us!
- What could impress Him?
- What would get His attention?
- What makes Him look?
We'll go through an example where Christ got His disciples and said, 'Look! Look!' pointing something out that was important. It had to do with this point here:
Isaiah 66:1: "Thus says the LORD, 'The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where then is the house that you build for Me? And where is the place of My rest?"
- Are you going to impress Me with this magnificent house"
- You're trying to impress Me?
Verse 2: "For all these things My hand has made… [the things that God can make are easy for Him] …and these things came to be,' says the LORD. 'But to this one I will look, to him… [or her] …who is of a poor and contrite… [lowly, humble; this impresses God] …spirit and who trembles at My Word." That is what impresses God!
There's an outlook, attitude and state of mind that impresses God. It's not the big stuff! God can do the big stuff! He can do the great and magnificent! The brilliance! He can do that! That's not what impresses God! It's not the big deal; God is the big deal, but that's not the big deal that impresses God. Incredible! The big deal is the opposite.
- Did God learn?
- Did He have to learn this principle Himself?
Mark 12:41: "And after sitting down opposite the temple treasury, He observed how the people were casting money into the treasury; and many rich ones were putting in much."
Big deal! In today's terminology, someone walks in with 'a thousand bucks,' all bound up, and someone else comes over and puts in 'three grand.' Is that impressive? Jesus was observing all the treasures, the money being put in! Sometimes we need to stop and look at what's happening.
- Where's the lesson?
- Why is this written down?
"…and many rich ones were putting in much."
Look at what is identified here. God has chosen the poor of the world, the weak, the frail. Why? Because there's a quality in that character that excites; 'that's what I want.'
Verse 42: "And one poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins… [peanuts] …which is equal to one copper coin. Then He called His disciples to Him and said to them…" (vs 42-43).
Here is the lesson that they had to get. 'Look, he's put in 'a grand,' and 'five grand'; WOW!' Jesus says, 'No, come here and look at this.' This is what excites God; this is the character the low, the desire, and the one who gives the most:
Verse 42: "And one poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins, which is equal to one copper coin. Then He called His disciples to Him and said to them 'Truly I say to you, this poor widow… [wasn't even married, a poor single woman] …has put in more than all…" (vs 42-43).
What a lesson; this is what impresses God, The attitude of the heart.
"…of those who are casting money into the treasury" (v 43).
- How many were there?
- Were there 20, 50, 100, 200, putting the money in?
We need to stop and take it in! this one widow alone put in more than all of them!
Sometimes I know I belabor the point, but sometimes we need to stop, take in what's being said. If we go through it fast we might lose it. It may not have the effect that is intended.
Verse 44: "For everyone else contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her destitution put in as much as she had… [she threw in the lot] …giving all her living."
That's what impresses God! The heart! She gave everything; the others had plenty in reserve! She had nothing in reserve. She probably wondered how she was going to buy food, because Christ read the heart. This is a principle of character that can handle greatness. Very important!
Matthew 18:1: "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who then is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?'"
- Was there a bit of shoving?
- Who's the greatest?
Maybe Peter came in and said, 'Who's going to be the greatest?' The very fact that they were having that stupid conversation tells you something, even with those whom He calls. We've all got lessons to learn. They were there with Christ themselves. Take it in! they were muscling, 'Who's the greatest? Tell us!' So, what did Jesus do?
Verse 2: "And after calling a little child… [maybe 3 or 4-years-old; a visual] …to Him, Jesus set him in their midst."
'Come on fellas, this is the lesson, come around.' This can escape us if we read fast. You need to meditate and just suck the message, take it in!
Verse 3: "And [Jesus] said, 'Truly I say to you, unless you are converted…'"
- Am I converted?
- Are you converted?
- What's conversion means?
This is part of conversion!
"…and become…" (v 3). An element of character!
It's not the greatness, it is this element of character that God is pointing out. That's what's great!
"…as little children, there is no way that you shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever shall humble himself…" (vs 3-4).
- Were they a little bit embarrassed? They were pushing and shoving, and saying, 'Who's going to be kingpin here?'
- Was this an embarrassing moment for them? They were to become as a little child!
Not a big child, but little! We shouldn't miss these words!
Verse 4: "Therefore, whoever shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."
WOW! Pretty powerful! This is the attribute of character that can handle greatness. Not be lofty, but be humble! Remember that the largest star would engulf the Earth. It's not the big powerful stuff, but the element of character that is able to handle, able to govern. That's what's being said here. It's not the big deal, it is:
- the lowly
- the teachable
- the meek
- those who take it in and learn
They're the ones who are called to greatness!
Who does God call? It's not the great! It's the off-scouring! The weak of the world! There's a big, big lesson in that, in our daily lives.
- how we conduct ourselves
- how we think
- how we act
- how we process things
Luke 18:9: "And to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others, He also spoke this parable: 'Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector'" (vs 9-10).
Sidebar: I remember going to the Sydney Church—many years back in Worldwide Church of God—and I had to drive from the mountains where I lived and probably took an hour and ten minutes or so. We would be last and sitting at the back.
The more important—just an impression—were sitting at the front, some in the middle, where seats were reserved. We had about 450-500 in attendance. Some of the Aussie brethren that might have gone there would know what I mean. I remember an occasion where the first message was really moving. We were thinking that this is really interesting. We were glued to receiving this message.
Then the main minister came out, and I thought he was mad, angry. He roared, looking at everybody! He came out with this incredible important message, and he was serious. He was powerful as he looked at us right through the room, loud!
We were all left with this great first message and suddenly we were knocked over by the power that this fellow came up with. Then he calmed down and complimented the first speaker, it was a very good message. But we now had our eyes on him, who was a good speaker.
There's no big church there anymore! We were wondering where he is now. Where did he go? I had heard that he was attending a Protestant church or something like that. But he's not around in the Church of God.
- Was he a hireling?
- Did he do a good job?
- I don't know!
Perhaps he truly is converted and has repented. I'm not worthy to do his shoelace up, I will say that. However, I just take this snippet, this picture of what happened.
Verse 10: "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.'"
A despised one, a social outcast! One who is looked down on! They were thieves, and 'collected more than they were due, and they robbed us!'
Christ picked these two, Mr. Religiosity, Mr. Righteous, and Mr. You Sit Over There at My Feet,' the tax collector!
Verse 11: "The Pharisee stood and prayed with himself in this manner: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers—or even as this tax collector.'" Attitude!
Let's glean the lesson, take in what Christ is actually saying and apply it: Is this what I do: pull myself up, who do you think I am? It's a smack in the face. We should all feel this. I know I should!
Verse 12: "I fast twice in the week, and I give a tithe of everything that I gain."
Now the comparison, the attitude of the other guy. This is what Christ is saying:
Verse 13: "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat himself on the chest, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'"
Now the judgment; Christ said; v 14: "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other…."
Here's the principle; what we've been talking about, the little child. The greatness belongs to God, but to us that most important of character that God is looking for in you and me. What is it? Humility! The little child! The picture!
"…For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled; and the one who humbles himself… the one who is last] …shall be exalted" (v 14).
- IF we want to be accepted by God
- IF we want recognition
Do you consider others better than yourself?
It's a challenge because it isn't natural! It's not normal! God said that that is the attribute of character that He looks for. Look at the child! Look at the widow! There's the widow putting in two mites, not even a penny! Peanuts! The other guys had bags of money!
To handle greatness, power, brilliance, you need this attribute of character: humility!
We could wonder, has God always thought like this? I'm going to go into some speculation. God has made us, in a sense, like Elohim, a product of our Creator. To a degree we think in a similar way as the Creator has made us. This attribute of character that we've been talking about: the lowly, the humble, the teachable, these are attributes are indispensable to greatness.
- Was that in God's plan from the start? I wonder; I just ask.
- Did the great God realize that about His own character at the beginning?
It's a hypothetical, and I just put it out there! Is there an intrinsic message there for us?
Look at the way we're made, the way we are. Look at our life, we're born as helpless infants. We 'pee and phoo' and can't clean ourselves. We can't feed ourselves. We're totally helpless!
But that's not the way that the angelic realm was created. But we're made like that, temporary. Not powerful and eternal. We hurt! We get dirty and have to cleanse! We have to eat!
Isaiah 14:12: "How you are fallen from the heavens, O shining star, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart, 'I will ascend into the heavens, I will exalt my throne… [authority] …above the stars of God; I will also sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north…. [he had a place] …I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.' Yet, you shall be brought down to the grave, to the sides of the pit" (vs 12-14).
'I'm better than this! I deserve more!' this kind of attitude! Getting by force, 'I want…'!
Luke 10:17[transcriber's correction]: "Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us through Your name.'… [here's the point, what Christ saw]: …And He [Christ] said to them, 'I was watching when Satan fell from heaven like lightning'" (vs 17-18).
Revelation 12:4: "And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth…." A third of the angelic realm were under Lucifer, Who became Satan!
Ezekiel 28: 11: "And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Son of man, lift up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him…'" (vs 11-12).
The earthly king is being talked about in ways that no earthly king could be talked about. So, it goes to the spiritual power behind this earthly king!
"…Thus says the Lord GOD, 'You seal up the measure of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty…. [could never be said about a mortal person] …You have been in Eden, the Garden of God; every precious stone…;: (vs 12-13).
God made the very best He could make, the greatest. He made:
- exaltation
- beauty
- wonder
- wisdom
"…was your covering: the ruby, the topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the turquoise, and the emerald, and gold. The workmanship of your settings…" (v 13).
The beauty! The magnificence! That only the great God could make!
"…and of your sockets was prepared in you in the day that you were created…" (v 13).
Made great from the start! Magnificent! What happened? That's what happens when you're made great! You have to start low! Is this what God Himself has learned? Or had learned?
Verse 14: "You were the anointed cherub that covers… [covered the Throne of God] …and I set you so; you were upon the Holy Mountain of God… [government, universe headquarters where all this emanated from and was made] …you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire."
One day if we see that, it's going to be so magnificent!
Verse 15: "You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until iniquity was found in you."
It's the opposite now! We are made lowly, dirty and foolish, but we have to become different. It's a reversal of strategy.
Verse 16: "By the multitude of your merchandise they have filled your midst with violence, and you have sinned. Therefore, I will cast you as profane from the mountain of God, and I will destroy you, O covering cherub, from among the stones of fire." He covered the Throne of God!
Now, here's another example of the attributes of character:
Matthew 18:23: "Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man, a certain king, who would take account with his servants. And after he began to reckon, there was brought to him one debtor who owed him ten thousand talents. But since he did not have anything to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. Because of this, the servant fell down and worshiped him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' And being moved with compassion, the lord of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt" (vs 23-27).
Who is "…the lord…"?
Verse 28: "Then that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants…"
This is an enlargement of the character we need to have:
"…who owed him a hundred silver coins… [a whole lot less] …and after seizing him, he choked him, saying, 'Pay me what you owe.' As a result, his fellow servant fell down at his feet and pleaded with him, saying, 'Have patience with me… [we could be in that position, we're forgiven, take it personally] …and I will pay you everything.' But he would not listen; instead, he went and cast him into prison, until he should pay the amount that he owed" (vs 28-30).
Verse 31: "Now, when his fellow servants saw the things that had taken place, they were greatly distressed; and they went to their lord and related all that had taken place."
God knows! He sees!
Verse 32: "Then his lord called him and said to him, 'You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt… [we were forgiven a great debt] …because you implored me…. [we implored God] …Were you not also obligated to have compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had compassion on you?' And in anger, his lord delivered him up to the tormentors, until he should pay all that he owed to him" (vs 32-34).
The bottom line here is that no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, but by the Spirit that God gives you and me, is leading you to understand. We know how to conduct ourselves and live in a way that God will one day say, 'Good and faithful servant…[the words we want to hear] …enter into the joy of your Lord!'
One big deal is that we need to be humble; we need to continually look at God's Word and treat every person in that way, that we may be pleasing in the sight of God!
Scriptural References:
- Genesis 1:1-2
- Hebrews 2:3-10
- John 1:1-3
- Daniel 12:4
- Isaiah 40:12-17, 25-29
- Matthew 9:28-30
- Genesis 18:12, 11-15
- Isaiah 66:1-2
- Mark 12:41-44
- Matthew 18:1-4
- Luke 18:9-14
- Isaiah 14:12-14
- Luke 10:17-18
- Revelation 12:4
- Ezekiel 28:1-15
- Matthew 18:23-34
RA:bo
Transcribed: 10-11-21
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