It is good to see how our brothers and sisters in Brazil are doing, and now I have received them.
Last summer, after the Richmond Conference, a few of us went to Brazil for about three weeks. We had a conference outside of São Paulo, and then later we went up to Belo to be with the brothers and sisters for about two weeks or so.
We came to appreciate the saints in Brazil: their love for the Lord, the way they worship, and particularly the way they sing to the Lord. It was so moving and so touching. The days we spent in Brazil were memorable days.
And so I have a request. If they would, I would like them to sing us two songs: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” and another song. Now, that is an American song, but the way they sing it in Brazil, you will not even recognize it. It has that beautiful Latin touch to it.
So would you mind coming here and singing for us, brothers and sisters? I think you will enjoy that, and I think we can learn a great deal from it. Please.
And then I think the second song they will sing for us is about the Lord’s coming.
Can we join together and see what happens?
In Brazil they tried to translate it for us, but they do not know how singable it is. So we have to give it a try. If you can sing in Portuguese, it is over there; and in English, it is over here. You have a choice now.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
So you have had a taste of Brazilian singing now.
Lord, what a privilege it is to sit in Your presence. We are so thankful. You are so gracious to us, so patient with us.
We want to come in our time to You. You know our needs, but we thank You that, whatever our needs may be, You are our supply. We look to You.
We look to You to teach us with Your own words. And we do pray that You will give us a responsive heart. Lord, that together we may learn something from You this afternoon.
We commit this time to You, and in the precious name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.
Before we read God’s Word, I just want to say a few words from my heart.
This world that we live in—the twentieth century that we are living in—is shrinking. It is getting smaller and smaller. I mean, the mass media, the communication, the instantaneous communication that we have in this age, is just phenomenal.
What happens in one part of the world, immediately the other part of the world knows about it. And I believe the Lord is using all this for our good.
We are the most blessed people. In my short life, the Lord has richly blessed me. Brothers and sisters from different parts of the world have enriched me immensely.
The few years I have lived in this country, I thank the Lord for the American brothers and sisters. They have enriched me in the Lord. The churches I have been to, how the Lord has enriched those who are in the faith—especially in these past days, in Hong Kong and elsewhere.
Then last year, a few of us—Ernie and his wife, Matt, Stella, myself, and Christian—went to Brazil to be with those brothers and sisters, and we were really enriched.
I just feel so small. What I do not have, the Lord has in others. What we are lacking in the United States, the Lord has somewhere else. The Lord always has His fullness in His people.
And the trouble is that, if we are not in fellowship with all His people, we miss it.
So I am very thankful for our brothers and sisters from Brazil at this time to be here in Richmond. I know they came here with the intention to receive, but I believe they have enriched all of us by their presence.
So we now turn to the Word. Let us turn to Luke 18 again. We touched it yesterday, just to refresh our memory.
The last phrase of verse 8—Luke 18, the last phrase of verse 8:
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?
When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?
And let us turn to 1 Peter 1 and read those few verses together again.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be