Saturday, December 27, 2008

Being focused on the Main Thing

Let's start with these two verses.

Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord's servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1: 57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
Last week, we were encouraged to return to the prayers we made...God has not forgotten us. He remembers! The God who remembers is here today. With these two verses, we can see the response of two women-different times in their life, (Old/Young). Both teach us--4 things about the way to respond. Can we be a little like Zechariah AND a little like Mary and Elizabeth? At the end of today’s talk, you talk to the person next to you. Tell them what you are going to do with these four words/actions.
Believe: The angels announced in spectacular fashion that the Messiah had been born. As soon as the angels left, the shepherds looked at each other and said: “What are we waiting for?…”
New Chinese believer: was so thankful to the missionary. The new believer was so moved that such a story was both true and so powerful. He then asked: How long ago this happen? The missionary quickly said, "About 2000 years ago in Israel! Why?" The Chinese believer looked deep into the eyes of the missionary and sad very so sadly: "Why did it take so long to get this to us? Why did people keep such Good News from us for so long? So many here had died NOT knowing of this Jesus. Why has it taken so long...?"
Obey: The shepherds did exactly as they were told. We sometimes think of Christmas as a tame holiday. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire… We think of sweet little baby Jesus asleep on a bed of hay...but soon, the leader in the nearest city sent his army to kill not only the Baby King, but also ALL children about His age---just in case. In this case, the parents of the Child also did what they were told and took the Baby into Egypt.
How do you respond to the Message of Christmas… “For unto YOU is born this day…” The Savior is born FOR YOU!
He came for you: The Gospel...
Tell: When the shepherds arrived in Bethlehem and saw the child lying in the feed trough, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.”… This message needs to get out. People need to hear. Need to know this Truth. WHY? It is the Good News! His Passion for you is so complete, He wants you to know His Love and forgiveness.
Experience: The shepherds were overwhelmed at the angel’s announcement. They experienced holy wonder… What would it take to be just a little excited about the Baby Jesus. Just a little excited about this life altering message of God’s Perfect gift to us! You can express some emotion! You can get excited about Him! You can sing a song!
BE like a Mary! Be like a Zechariah! Sing a song.
Mary's Song 46~55
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— Holy is His Name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and His descendants forever, even as He said to our fathers.”
Zechariah's Song
Zechariah Said: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come and has redeemed His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David (as He said through His holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His Holy Covenant, the oath He swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Believe, Obey, Tell and Experience or Do. How can we as a community here in Kotesashi, do these four things this day, this week, this month, the rest of our lives? The shepherds keep telling people well past the season. The Angels’ message cannot be lost over time. What shall you DO with this information? Ask the other person to pray for you and to check with you later in the month as to how you are doing...

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

COMING SOON TO TOKYO!


More details as they are known


Save the date!  
Join the World in prayer!
Invite many to the event (TBA).
May 31, 2009 is coming!
Go to: www.gdopjapan.com
or
www.globaldayofprayer.com/
for more details

Monday, December 22, 2008

Christmas To-Do List: Being focused on the Main Thing 一番大切なものを一番にする

Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord's servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1: 57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.

Last week, we were encouraged to return to the prayers we made...God has not forgotten us. He remembers! The God who remembers is here today. With these two verses, we can see the response of two women-different times in their life, (Old/Young).
先週は私たちが過去に祈ったことについて話しました。神様は私たちのことを忘れてなかったのです。神様は覚えていてくださいます。私たちと共に居てくださるのです。
今、読んだ聖書箇所では二人の女性の人生が書かれてあります。

Both teach us--4 things about the way to respond. Can we be a little like Zechariah AND a little like Mary and Elizabeth? At the end of today’s talk, you talk to the person next to you. Tell them what you are going to do with these four words/actions.
この二人から4つの答え方を学ぶことができます。私たちはザカリヤやマリアやエリザベツのようにもなれるのです。

Believe: The angels announced in spectacular fashion that the Messiah had been born. As soon as the angels left, the shepherds looked at each other and said: “What are we waiting for?…”
1.信じる:天使は劇的な方法で救い主の誕生を告げました。天使が去ったあと、羊飼いはお互いに顔を見合わせて言いました。「自分たちは何をまだ、待っているのか」

Illustration:
In the 1840's or so, missionaries went into the large areas in the middle of China. No Gospel message was ever presented there before. The work moved onward when one young Chinese believed: he was so thankful to the missionary. The new believer was so moved that such a story was both true and so powerful. He then asked: "How long ago this happen?" The missionary quickly said, "About 2000 years ago in Israel ! Why?" The Chinese believer looked deep into the eyes of the missionary and sad very so sadly: "Why did it take so long to get this to us? Why did people keep such Good News from us for so long? So many here had died NOT knowing of this Jesus. Why has it taken so long...?"
クリスチャンになったばかりの中国人の人が宣教師に感謝しました。宣教師が語った力強い真実な話しにとても感動したのでした。いつこのことが起こったのですか?と彼は尋ねました。宣教師は「約2000年前にイスラエルで起きました。」と答えました。中国人は宣教師の目をじっと見つめて悲しそうに言いました。「何故、私たちのところに来るまでに2000年もかかったのですか?なぜ、そんなに良い知らせなら、直ぐに教えてくれなかったのですか?大勢の人がイエス様を知らずに死んでしまいました。何故、そんなに長く・・・?




Obey: The shepherds did exactly as they were told. We sometimes think of Christmas as a tame holiday. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…(song is sung)
We think of sweet little baby Jesus asleep on a bed of hay...but soon, the leader in the nearest city sent his army to kill not only the Baby King, but also ALL children about His age---just in case.
2. 従う:羊飼いは言われたとおりに行動しました。私たちはクリスマスをただの休日だと考えがちです。暖炉で栗を焼いて・・・という歌がありますが。
可愛い赤ちゃんのイエスが飼い葉おけに寝かされていました。・・・そして直ぐに近くの町の王様がイエスを殺すために同じ年の子供を皆殺しにしました。

In this case, the parents of the Child also did what they were told and took the Baby into Egypt .
How do you respond to the Message of Christmas… “For unto YOU is born this day…” The Savior is born FOR YOU! He came for you. The Gospel is that great news of God providing His creation with a way to find forgiveness that was not bound to the blood of animals. He knew that a price needed to be paid. The ONLY price that could/would satisfy this dept was the death of the Holy One--His one and only Son, Jesus. So, He sent Him to the earth as the little Baby. He was born to a Virgin. That Child of Promise grew to be a Man. Sinless, Without blemish. THAT Man now needed to die in our place. He went to the Cross and died there to take the penalty for our sins. ALL of them! For everyone! For all time! That is the Good News!
イエスの両親はエジプトに逃げるようにと言われ、イエスを連れてその通りにしました。
皆さんはクリスマスのメッセージをどのように受け止めますか?
あなたがたのために御子はお生まれになりました。
救い主はあなたのために生まれたのです。あなたのためにイエスは来られたのです。

Tell: When the shepherds arrived in Bethlehem and saw the child lying in the feed trough, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.”… This message needs to get out. People need to hear. Need to know this Truth. WHY? It is the Good News! His Passion for you is so complete, He wants you to know His Love and forgiveness.
3. 知らせる(伝える):ベツレヘムに羊飼いが到着したとき、飼い葉おけに寝ている子供を見ました。そして、この子供について告げられたことについて知らせました。
この知らせは人々に伝えられるべきなのです。この真理を知らせなければいけません。
なぜでしょうか?それは良い知らせだからです。イエス様は皆さんに愛と赦しを知らせたいのです。

Experience: The shepherds were overwhelmed at the angel’s announcement. They experienced holy wonder… What would it take to be just a little excited about the Baby Jesus. Just a little excited about this life altering message of God’s Perfect gift to us! You can express some emotion! You can get excited about Him! Can you sing a song!
BE like a Mary! Be like a Zechariah! Sing a song.
4. 体験する:羊飼いは天使が告げたことにとてもおどろきました。彼らは聖なる体験をしたのでした。イエス様の誕生にちょっとだけ感動してみてはどうでしょうか?
このイエス様の人生が神さまから私たちへの贈り物なのです。その贈り物に感動してみてください。感動を表現してみてください。歌を歌って表現してみてください。
マリアみたいに!ザカリヤみたいに!さあ歌を歌いましょう!

Please, now, let the women here read this aloud! Make this your prayer of praise to God. A young teen, one who had not had sexual relation with a man, now blessed with this GOOD NEWS! Sing it out!
Mary's Song 46~55
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— Holy is His Name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel , remembering to be merciful to Abraham and His descendants forever, even as He said to our fathers.”

Zechariah's Song
We will hear the song of a heart set free this Sunday. When you consider that Zechariah had been absolutely silent for probably a whole year, it is amazing to think of what it meant to him to be able, at long last, to express what had been held back in his heart. When you finally obey God, you are suddenly released from whatever has held you back, and the Lord opens His heart to you once again.

今週は自由になったザカリヤの心の歌を聞いてみましょう。ザカリヤは約一年間、全く話せませんでした。心に思っていたことをやっと言葉で表現できるようになったことはザカリヤにとっては驚くべきことでした。私たちがやっと主に従う決心をしたとき、ためらいから解放され、神さまは私たちに対して心を開いてくださいます。

Zechariah Said: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel , because He has come and has redeemed His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David (as He said through His holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His Holy Covenant, the oath He swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”


Believe, Obey, Tell and Experience or Do or BE. How can we as a community here in Kotesashi, do these four things this day, this week, this month, the rest of our lives. The shepherds keep telling people well past the season. The Angels’ message cannot be lost over time. What shall you DO with this information? Ask the other person to pray for you and to check with you later in the month as to how you are doing...

信じ、従い、伝えるそして体験することですが、今週小手指でそれらを実行することができるでしょうか?また、今月、そして私たちの生涯を通して実行することができるでしょうか?羊飼いたちは自分たちが見聞きしたことを告げ知らせました。天使が告げたことは今も忘れ去ることはできません。みなさんはこのこと対して何をしますか?このことについて他の人に祈ってもらってください。また、一ヵ月後にお互いに何をしたか確認し合ってください。

HAVE a VERY Merry Christmas!!! Come to the Chapel on Christmas Eve at 6:30 PM for a Candle Light Service with Christmas Carols, Bible story of the Birth, Prayer for the coming year and join us as we walk around Enoki-Cho and SING Christmas Carols at people's homes. If you are living in the Enoki-Cho area and are reading this, invite us to sing to your family as well--or just join us as we walk and sing!