26-0215a - Detailed Summary

Steve greets the congregation, expressing how good it is to see everyone and how much he appreciates their presence. He announces that he will do something he seldom does but enjoys, which is giving a personal testimony, though not right away. He will lead up to it and let the audience figure out where it fits and when it occurred. The lesson this morning is titled "Areas of Divine Intervention," broken down into personal and financial areas. This morning focuses on the personal aspect, which is why he plans to share a personal testimony. As listeners to his classes or lessons quickly learn, Steve firmly believes in the divine intervention, providence, and preservation of God. This conviction comes directly from the scriptures. He practices reading five Psalms and one Proverb every morning before starting his day.

In those Psalms and Proverbs, one cannot help but grasp the concept that the writers believed in the divine intervention, providence, and preservation of God. God desires that we reach the same conclusion: He intervenes in our lives, works providentially, and preserves us. Steve has no reservation about these truths. At 84 years old, soon to be 85 in July, he draws from numerous experiences that have emboldened and bolstered his faith in God’s divine intervention and providence. Paul also strongly believed in this. The key, as highlighted in the morning’s lesson from Romans, is to absolutely believe in the divine God who created the world, preserves it, and continues to do so. The Proverbs and Psalms further underscore belief in God’s preservation of life. Examining the creation account, God structured the seven days of creation so that each builds upon the previous one. One day precedes the next, ensuring the sequence. If day one did not precede day two, day three would not exist, nor would day four have opportunity. God built the world this way, preserving it, intervening in it, interacting with it, and providing for it.

The Psalms emphasize that God looks after His creation with great care. Thus, divine intervention, providence, and preservation depend on the God one chooses to believe in. Reflecting on this, we must believe in the God that Abraham believed in, the God that Isaac believed in, and the God that Jacob believed in. That is the God we need to embrace. Steve often poses the question of what pleases God, deeming it crucial to understand. In Hebrews chapter 11, verse 5, the writer highlights Enoch, who was taken away without experiencing death because of his faith, and he pleased God. The next verse explains what about Enoch pleased God: we please Him by believing that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. In the Old Testament, particularly with Abraham, God developed faith, not only Abraham’s but all mankind’s, through His interactions. Romans points out that God holds against those who do not believe He exists, leaving them without excuse, as His creation and involvement in life prove His existence. He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, and He helps develop our faith.

Steve believes God helps develop our faith as well. When Jesus was on earth, His lessons demonstrated faith in God and divine intervention in our lives. Matthew chapter 6, one of Steve’s favorite chapters, contains passages he will reference again, as they illustrate God’s divine intervention. Even though we work with skill and ability, those are gifts from God at birth, meant to be developed to help one another exist. Yet Jesus wants us to realize we are not relying on our own ability alone; God provides the abilities and the avenues to develop them. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches that God intervenes in our lives and gives us opportunities to provide. He also emphasizes mutual dependence: I depend on you, and you depend on me, as He uses us to help in this way. Jesus' teaching concerns God’s involvement in our lives.

Steve reads from Matthew 6:25-34 in the New International Version. Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Where is your ability in this? It all depends entirely upon God’s divine intervention, providence, and preservation. What we will do when we leave here, what we will do for the rest of our lives, those are all in God’s hands. Jesus continues: Why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow? They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. This is divine intervention, providence, and preservation. Jesus teaches reliance upon it. God created and sustains the world, providing rain, sun, animals for consumption and benefit. When we leave the auditorium, we will go downstairs to a meal He has prepared.

Did we grow it, prepare it, or slaughter it? It was all there for us to consume and assimilate. He provides for us. Jesus tells us to rely upon the divine intervention, providence, and preservation of God. Do you really believe in God? That is the question. If you do, your life will reflect it in the things you do and say. If not, you will strive and figure out what to do for your next meal or this or that. Many on the streets do this, yet they are still alive, have meals, and places to sleep. Very seldom do you hear of anyone starving to death, especially in the United States, or freezing to death. People look after them. God prepares individuals with heart and concern, and He uses them too. You are given abilities to do these things. The point is that Paul’s life was divinely intervened in and providentially brought about by God.

Paul was raised as a Jew, became a member of the Sanhedrin, and was a Pharisee. In many things he did, he strove to be a God-fearing person within the Jewish faith. However, it took divine intervention and providence from God to change his life. Paul believed he was doing God’s will when he persecuted Christians, arresting them and putting them in prison. He thought he was carrying out what God wanted, but it required divine intervention to redirect him. Steve asks who among us would have wanted to confront Paul and try to convert him, knowing he might imprison us. Even when God instructed Ananias to go to Paul to baptize him, Ananias hesitated, saying he had heard about Paul and did not want to go. God had to convince Ananias that Paul was a changed man. It was Jesus Himself who divinely intervened to transform Paul. This is one reason the reading from 2 Corinthians was chosen, because even after becoming active in preaching Christ, Paul’s faith wavered at times and faced challenges. He was tested to reveal the depth of his faith. Similarly, God tests each of us every day to see how much we truly believe in Him and depend on Him. God tests us to help us pass and grow in faith. Returning to 2 Corinthians, starting from verse 12 as previously read.

Paul initially thought he was master of his own faith and direction, not fully relying on God as he should. Steve corrects to verse 8 in the New International Version. Paul gives a personal account of his life and travels, describing being under great pressure—though the exact nature is unspecified, it was severe enough that he and his companions feared for their lives. They were under pressure far beyond their ability to endure, leading them to despair of life itself. This was a test of faith. They felt they had received the sentence of death, but this occurred so they would not rely on themselves but on God who raises the dead. Paul explains that these experiences taught him he could not depend on his own strength. God had delivered them from such deadly peril and would deliver them again. Paul sets his hope on God for continued deliverance. He notes that the Corinthians' prayers helped, so that many would give thanks for the gracious favor granted through the prayers of many.

Time is running short, but Steve proceeds to share a personal experience to illustrate belief in divine intervention and providence. He affirms that God works in each listener’s life, urging them to consider and accept this conviction. When Steve was younger, he had three children still in grade school. He had great aspirations for an occupation that would create wealth, allowing him to provide his family with a nice house, nice car, and the things money can buy. He pursued various paths, including sales and accounting with his business degree, car sales, and insurance sales.

These jobs were chosen for their potential financial success, but Steve failed miserably in them. He reached a point where he had only five dollars in his savings account, no money in checking, and was deeply in debt—facing bankruptcy if just one creditor called for payment. He was unemployed and uncertain about his future. One night, deeply disappointed, he got out of bed, went to the living room floor, sprawled out, and prayed to God, throwing everything upon Him. He then returned to bed. The next morning, he checked the newspaper for jobs and found an opening for a morning driver salesman at Coca-Cola—a job he had not previously considered. At the time, Steve weighed almost 300 pounds, was flabby, and got out of breath easily even chasing his children.

Steve applied for the job wearing a suit. There were at least 20 to 25 other applicants. In the interview, the man offered him the job if he could obtain a CDL (commercial driver’s license), which Steve did not yet have. Steve was the only applicant in a suit, and the interviewer offered the job despite his overweight condition. He went to the license bureau without studying, requested the chauffeur’s license test, and was allowed to take it—he could miss only six questions. He passed exactly at the limit, missing six questions, and received the license. He returned and was hired. Within three months, he lost weight down to 160 pounds, built muscle, and could lift 60-pound cases of Coke. His hands and muscles were sore from the work. Six years later, he was still employed there, had made enough money to clear all debt, and was able to attend school to become a minister.

Steve firmly believes this was divine intervention—his mission confirmed. He has several such stories but shares this one. He identifies completely with Paul, especially in Philippians chapter 4. Paul rejoiced that the Philippians renewed their concern, though not from need, having learned contentment in any circumstance. He knew need and plenty, the secret of being content whether well-fed or hungry, in abundance or want. He could do all things through Christ who strengthened him. Believing in God means living in a way that reflects that belief. God knows our belief by how we live. He calls us to believe, repent from our lifestyle and attitudes, accept that He exists and rewards those who diligently seek Him. Through Jesus as our high priest, God offers reconciliation—Jesus' sacrifice for sins is complete. He invites anyone to become His disciple, be baptized for remission of sins, put on Christ, and walk in newness of life. This demonstrates belief that God looks after us and wants to be our Father. Steve extends the invitation to anyone needing that assurance. The congregation stands together to sing the song of invitation.