Angelo Bazzo | Salmo 132 - 30.07.17

Vision of the Community

Introduction to the Vision

• The speaker expresses a desire to share the community's vision as a church, emphasizing its biblical foundation.

• Acknowledges personal discomfort with discussing vision but recognizes its importance in guiding the community.

Importance of Vision

• Cites Proverbs, stating that without vision, people become corrupt and fragmented. This highlights the necessity of having a clear direction for the community.

• Distinguishes between mission (what they want to do) and vision (how they see themselves and their identity). Mission involves fulfilling Jesus' Great Commission from Matthew 28.

Community Commitment

• Emphasizes living in community through friendship, prayer, and communion with God as part of their mission. This reflects a commitment to building relationships within the church.

• The vision is tied closely to their identity rather than just actions; it shapes how they perceive their role in the world.

Personal Journey Towards Vision

Early Experiences

• Shares a personal story from 2003 about feeling called to establish houses of prayer across South America during a moment of prayer in Belo Horizonte. This marks an important turning point in understanding his purpose.

• In 2006, further insights were gained while studying biblical passages related to restoration and God's house, leading him to understand more about his calling.

Biblical Foundations

• References Psalm 132 as foundational for understanding God's house and presence among His people; this psalm serves as a model for what they aspire to create within their community.

David's Vow: A Model for Commitment

David's Prayer

• Discusses David’s vow found in Psalm 132 where he promises not to rest until he finds a dwelling place for God, illustrating deep commitment and urgency towards establishing God's presence on earth.

Significance of Rest

• Highlights that David equates finding rest for God with establishing stability and comfort; he refuses personal comfort until God's presence is secured among His people. This reflects profound dedication beyond mere physical structures or rituals.

Understanding God's House Today

Modern Interpretation

• Explains that today’s understanding of God’s house transcends physical buildings; it encompasses communities of believers who embody His presence collectively rather than individually attending services at designated locations like churches or temples.

Conclusion on Community Identity

• Concludes by reiterating that being identified as "God's house" means being places where His rest can be experienced—emphasizing relational dynamics over traditional notions of worship spaces or gatherings alone. This redefines how they view church life moving forward into practical applications within their community context.

Understanding God's Presence and Its Manifestation

The Concept of God's Omnipresence

• The speaker questions the purpose of building a house for God, given that He is omnipresent and exists everywhere.

• Despite God's omnipresence, His presence does not manifest equally in all places; for instance, He is present even in hell.

• The way God manifests in heaven differs from how He is present on earth or in hell, indicating varying degrees of divine presence.

The Purpose of Prayer and Divine Will

• Jesus teaches to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, highlighting the desire for heavenly realities to manifest on earth.

• When God's will aligns with earthly actions, divine power and presence are released onto the earth, enabling miraculous occurrences.

Historical Context of Divine Power

• Biblical prophets had foresight and transformative power due to their connection with divine authority; this raises questions about contemporary manifestations of such power.

• There is skepticism regarding modern claims of healing miracles compared to biblical times, suggesting a lack of true resting place for divine presence on earth.

Convergence of Heaven and Earth

• The discussion emphasizes the convergence between heavenly realities and earthly existence as a central theme throughout the Bible.

• Ephesians 1:10 speaks about bringing everything together under Christ's authority—this convergence includes both humanity and creation itself.

Future Fulfillment in Christ

• In 1 Corinthians 15:28, it describes a future where all things will be subjected to Christ’s authority before returning everything back to God.

• This passage indicates that after reigning on earth for a thousand years, Jesus will submit His kingdom back to God so that God may be all in all.

• The ultimate goal is for God's presence to fill every part of creation with His glory—a vision echoed throughout scripture.

New Creation Vision

• Revelation 21 introduces the concept of a new heaven and new earth where everything will be renewed at the end times.

The Convergence of Heaven and Earth

The Prophecy of God's Tabernacle

• The first heaven and earth have passed away, and the sea no longer exists. A vision of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven is described, adorned like a bride for her groom.

• Verse 3 emphasizes that God's tabernacle will be among men, indicating a future prophecy where God’s dwelling will be with humanity.

• The concept of God's house (tabernacle) is discussed; it signifies a future time when God will manifest His presence on Earth as He does in Heaven.

Understanding God's Presence

• There is a theological tension between God being in heaven and simultaneously present everywhere. This leads to discussions about omnipresence versus manifested presence.

• The ultimate goal of biblical history is to unite the heavenly realm with the earthly realm, highlighting that the church represents God's house on Earth.

The Struggle Against Carnality

• Currently, there is an absence of God's resting presence among believers due to ongoing struggles against sin and carnality.

• Reference to Genesis 6:3 indicates that God’s Spirit will not strive with man indefinitely, suggesting a limit to divine patience with human rebellion.

Spiritual Warfare

• Isaiah 63:10 illustrates how Israel rebelled against God’s Spirit, leading Him to become their adversary—a powerful reminder of the consequences of resisting divine influence.

• The struggle between flesh and spirit is emphasized; while this conflict can be seen positively (as spiritual growth), it also indicates a lack of peace within believers.

Community's Role in Divine Rest

• Emphasis on creating a community focused on allowing the Holy Spirit to overcome resistance within individuals so that God may find rest among them.

• When collective lives align with God's will on Earth, manifestations akin to those in Heaven can occur—this principle underpins the community's mission.

Biblical Foundations for Convergence

• The term "convergence" reflects an aspiration for lifestyle choices that facilitate alignment between Heaven's reality and Earth's experience.

• Revelation 4:1 describes John being called up into heaven through an open door—a metaphorical invitation for believers to seek deeper understanding and connection with divine realities.

The Convergence of Heaven and Earth

The Vision of the Throne

• The description of a jasper stone and a rainbow around the throne, with 24 elders seated on thrones wearing white robes and golden crowns.

• The presence of seven torches of fire before the throne symbolizes the seven spirits of God, indicating a deeper reality beyond what is visible.

Historical Manifestations

• Reference to Exodus 19:16, where thunder and lightning occurred at Mount Sinai as Moses approached God, illustrating divine convergence.

• God's descent upon Mount Sinai in fire signifies that heaven's reality converged with earth at that moment.

Tabernacle Significance

• In Exodus 40:34, the cloud covered the tabernacle, representing God's glory filling it so much that Moses could not enter.

• The Israelites followed the cloud by day and fire by night, showcasing God's continuous presence among them.

Sacrificial Practices

• Leviticus 9 describes Aaron offering sacrifices; after which God's glory appeared to all people when fire consumed the offerings.

• This event illustrates how divine fire from heaven manifested on earth during sacrificial acts.

Prophetic Visions

• Isaiah's vision (Isaiah 6:1), where he saw God on a high throne surrounded by seraphim, emphasizes heavenly realities impacting earthly experiences.

• John 1:14 highlights Jesus' incarnation as a manifestation of divine glory among humanity.

The Shekinah Glory and the Incarnation of Jesus

The Manifestation of God's Presence

• In the Old Testament, the Shekinah glory was seen as a cloud representing God's presence, primarily manifesting in the temple and tabernacle.

• The term "dwelt" in Greek can be translated to "tabernacled," indicating that Jesus embodied this divine presence, similar to what occurred in Moses' tabernacle and Solomon's temple.

Jesus as the Fulfillment of Divine Presence

• The glory of God, represented by Shekinah, is now present in Jesus' physical form, suggesting He embodies divine power and authority.

• Jesus references Jacob's ladder from Genesis 28, where angels ascend and descend between heaven and earth, signifying His role as a bridge between God and humanity.

Open Heaven Concept

• Jesus indicates that an "open heaven" exists over Him, allowing celestial realities to interact freely with earthly existence.

• There is skepticism about claims of an open heaven today; true evidence would be visible manifestations like angels ascending or descending.

The Role of Humanity in Divine Action

• Jesus exemplifies a life perfectly aligned with God's heart, enabling unrestricted divine action through Him.

• Unlike humans who have barriers due to sinfulness, Jesus was sinless and allowed God to work fully through Him.

Redemption Through Christ

• The crucifixion is framed not just as a historical event but as a pivotal moment for redemption; it addresses humanity's failure to live righteously.

• Belief in Christ leads to forgiveness and transformation into vessels where God can dwell; this process involves repentance from sin.

Misconceptions About Grace

• A false doctrine suggests all sins are automatically forgiven due to Christ’s sacrifice; however, genuine repentance is necessary for forgiveness.

• While the Holy Spirit remains within believers despite their failings, unrepentant sin grieves Him and hinders His work.

Collective Community Vision

• God's desire is for a community reflecting Christ collectively so that He may rest among them without hindrance from sin or darkness.

• When God rests upon a community or city aligned with His will, negative influences such as crime or addiction cannot persist.

Importance of Heart Alignment Over Ritual

• True worship goes beyond music; it requires hearts genuinely aligned with God's desires.

• Historical examples show that mere lip service without heartfelt devotion does not satisfy God’s longing for authentic relationship.

Understanding the Unity of Believers

The Context of Jesus' Instructions

• The disciples received instructions from Jesus before His ascension, emphasizing the need to remain in Jerusalem until they were empowered from on high.

• Acts 1:15 mentions that about 120 people were gathered together, highlighting a small but significant group.

Reflecting on Jesus' Ministry

• Despite three and a half years of teaching and miracles, only 120 individuals remained united in faith, which may seem like a defeat but is viewed as a significant achievement by God.

• This unity among a few can lead to divine manifestations on earth, suggesting that quality over quantity is essential in spiritual matters.

The Challenge of True Agreement

• Achieving true agreement among believers is challenging; mere physical unity does not equate to spiritual alignment with God.

• Genuine unity requires individual believers to be aligned with God first before they can truly agree with one another.

The Power of Collective Prayer

• Emphasizing personal alignment with God among small groups (2 or 3 individuals), rather than just seeking collective unity without individual commitment.

• Acts 2 describes the day of Pentecost when all were gathered in one place, leading to an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Seeking More Than Revival

• The speaker expresses that their pursuit goes beyond revival; they seek deeper spiritual experiences and transformations within their community.

• Acknowledges that for God to find rest on earth, there must be collective agreement and commitment among believers.

Personal Commitment and Sacrifice

• The speaker reflects on their personal journey towards creating space for God's presence through changes in behavior and priorities.

• They emphasize the importance of being willing to change oneself for God's purpose rather than expecting others to conform.

Facing Relational Conflicts

• Citing Psalm 69:7, the speaker discusses how following God's path can lead to social alienation or conflict due to differing values and priorities.

• Following God's call often results in feeling like an outsider even among close relationships due to differing commitments and zeal for God's house.