Living in Forgiveness

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD;
2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
3 If You, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 O Israel, put Your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

It is hard to forgive yourself. We tend to live in regret. We have the propensity to live in the past. We are inclined to live not forgiving ourselves or for our blunders. Jonah was every much like that as we are.

He remembers the way it was back before the boat to the fish’s tummy. Before he went away from God’s plan for him. He found it really hard to live in the forgiveness that was already his.
We find it hard to live in the forgiveness we already have in the Lord as well!

Look at Jonah 3:10. “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened.”

God’s forgiveness is nothing like the forgiveness of humans. Again, we are liable to remember evil done against us. We are predisposed to hold on to the past.

Time to let go!
Time to let yourself be healed of the pain.
Healed of the sorrow.
Healed of the reminder of our past life away from the Lord.

We will get to our text soon, but first, let’s look at the problem Jonah had. He is displeased because WHY? Because God answers prayers. Strange reason to be bitter, but a real issue for some--for most. We are inclined to keep count.

In Matt 18, Jesus is asked an important question. They knew it was the right thing to do in forgiving people, but how many times do we need to forgive them before we can’t forgive them any more?

We are looking for a way to give then what they deserve. If the truth be know, they want to hurt them back. We want justice--but on our terms and not the same justice when it comes to our own lives with it’s disappointments. Jesus sees right into the heart of the matter and finds a place to touch-a God-Touch Place.

Chapter 18 deals with humbling one self like a little child in order to be the greatest in the Kingdom of God. (So much for the proud.) He speaks of the one sheep that took off from the herd and how the Good Shepherd went after it and brought it back. A real picture of the Lve of God toward us! Then the question of people who sin against you..then, this:

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Jesus then goes and tells a lengthy parable of the unmerciful servant. The whole idea of this parable was to point out that the huge debt he had was canceled but the man held onto a small debt owed him. He was unmerciful. Mercy was lacking in his life.

Is mercy lacking in your life?

Mercy was great to get but was not so great to give!

Sounds like our man Jonah! He was so thankful for the second chance on life after the experience in the stormy sea and from inside the fish. He was not to happy with what happened with the city that was at war with Israel. God forgave them. God’s compassion was great toward them and did not bring the destruction He had threatened them with.

Now Jonah was angry, yet he prayed. He not only prayed but he justified his anger with God. “This is why I disobeyed You” ...because of Your Character.

Gracious /
compassionate God /
Slow to anger /
abounding in love

Real positive traits of God and Jonah was angry about his God’s Character. Jonah also FORGETS that this same God was that way toward this evil city was the same toward him!

With God, there is no distinction? I am the same in His eyes as a pagan person? In truth, yes...and no. His love toward me as a Child of God is secure in His Son’s Blood over me but His love for the pagan is just as real. When He looks at me, He sees His Son: when He looks at someone who is not yet His Child, He sees a potential family member.

The God who relents from sending calamity… “therefore take my life away.” “Let me die!” “Better to die than to live!”

What is the meaning of LIFE?
If you have been forgiven, why throw your life away?

ILL: A train accident in the Osaka area a while ago. In the tangled mess of train cars, people were found...some alive, some injured, some without a scratch. One such man made the news last week. He was one of the survivors. Spent some time in the Hospital, overcoming some physical injuries and mental stress. Last week, he ended his life. He, who was spared death in that terrible accident, took his own life. Found it hard to handle why he was alive while others died. Now the families of the ones who died wonder, why did he get to live and then kill himself while our loved one was not given that same chance? Seemed unfair/sad!

Chapter 4:4 “‘But the Lord replied:’“Have you any right to be angry?”
“Do you have any right to say, KILL ME!?”

Was Jonah forgiving? Who did he hate? Not just the people and nation of Nineveh but also, God and himself. Not a really nice person to be around. All this hate and angry is unhealthy. It created in Jonah a desire for self-destructive. These types of feelings are somewhat common--even in small areas of our lives.

How many times have you said: “I don’t deserve this!” “Oh, no, not me! I am not good enough…” “I could just die.” “I wish I were dead.” “If I could just end this…”

Your feelings are real. Now, move from there.

Don’t dwell there.
Don't build a house there in that hate filled area of living.
See how God handled them with Jonah?

He was patient with Jonah. He is patient with you.

Please read the following passage and ask God for this kind of heart.
Joel 2:12-14
12 "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God.

______________

Please go to www.gdopjapan.com for information on the next evening of Prayer on November 1. Those in the Tokyo area are encouraged to come to the GDOP 1/2 Year Check-In at the Seibi Kaikan in Higashi Kurume at 6:30-8:30 PM.

The Same Word; The Second Time Around-Jonah 3

Let's start this morning with a passage from Luke 8:4-15

LUKE 8:4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told this parable: 5 "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."

When He said this, He called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

9 His disciples asked Him what this parable meant. 10 He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

" 'though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.'

11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the Word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Just how do we respond to the Word of God does really matter. The question for us today is this: Which soil are you? Which soil do you want to be to have growth and life?

Jonah 3:6~10

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:

"By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened.

The Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. It was the SAME word. Same message: GO! God will give the message.It was not up to Jonah.
The Message we tell and live out in front of people is not OUR story but His.
(His story/history) It is/may be OK to share about your way as long as you keep the Main thing His Story!

Verse 5 “After one day---the city believed!” Must have been some message!
Believe? What does believe mean?

•Surface recognize Truth There it is-no personal involvement or need to change.
•A Little Deeper weight Truth out. Yes=go this way. No=don’t go that way. Can you be neutral? Not really. You are either for Me or against Me! is what Jesus said. There is no middle road.
•Heart motivated by Truth Take action/move
I.E. Jesus’ teaches on the soil and seeds. (see Luke 8, above)

• King heard and responded really fast! (Like Joel 2:14)
• Declared a FAST: Change behavior big time
• Put on sackcloth: Change of dressing—difference would make things uncomfortable.

Steps to Repent:
Do we follow this form? Is this the Biblical Way?

1. Leave your place of power-rose OFF the throne, humility. You are not the center. Not even near center!

2. Took off his royal robe-“Just as I am” from the Hymnal.

3. Covered himself with sackcloth
Not ‘put on' sackcloth...
Not ‘changed into' but COVERED!

Who is our covering? “Put on Christ”
Who covers us? God’s Grace, Mercy, Power, Compassion, …

4. Sat down in the dust.
“Dust I came from; dust I am going.”
Simple life—cut off from the business of life
Deal with THIS issue. Not let other things take over.

•Lowest place to go: the ground. Basic place to start. Go back to the beginning. Then move ahead/don’t stay in the past. Try as you might, you can’t change the past.

•Then the King issued a proclamation. This took time. Not off the cuff. Not acted in haste. Didn’t put it off. Took time to deal with it. (Like a ball in the water—hard to keep it under the surface!)

5. Fast. No food or drink-man, woman, child AND animals! All of creation was effected by sin. Waiting for us to bring this to an end. Our action yields redemption because of what Christ did on the Cross.

6. Call urgently on God.
Easy to say ‘sorry’ Sumimasen. すめません！ Shitsure shimasu. しつれします！ Easy to repent but hard to life in repentance. Live in light of how your sin was such an offense to God, He needed to provide a way to bring you back to Himself. Your sin was a deeply hurtful action that caused Him much pain. The call on Him needs to be urgent! Must be dealt with! Can’t put it off any more!

7. Give up their evil ways. Take off the Old and put on the New. Transformed lives are the ones that are followed. Be that for others today!

Give up their violence. A new heart with new desires. Desires that please God! Our reaction is different. Reaction is fast yet prolonged. This is an on going repentance. Have a short list. Faith AND Works. Faith and action. All this goes together. Really can't do one without the other. This makes a balanced life!


Vs 10. God provided Salvation. This is His Plan for man’s repentance. Father God provided it all: fish, a vine, a worm, a scorching wind, an answer, and provided mercy to that city, to Jonah, to Israel, and to us, in Christ Jesus. All from His Hand.

How then shall we then live? Start with repenting—not just being sorry—Godly sorrow goes a long way. Shallow sorrow does not move at all.

Start with repenting—He will provide the rest.

___---Next week: He is coming Back! Get ready!---____

Repent--a hard word

Please read Jonah 3 before you read the sermon...

I need to ask this morning, what did it take to bring this Assyrian Evil Empire of to her knees and repent?

What does it take to bring anyone to his or her knees?

What would it take today to repent?

All over the world today, there are prayer movements setting aside days, weeks and months for repentance!

• 11/1 is one of them. (At the Higashi Kurume Seibi Kaikan at 6:30-8:30 P.M.)
• 10/6, there is a Prayer walk around the Diet Building.
• 10/5 is the World Wide Day of Prayer for Jerusalem. 6:30-8 PM at Shalom Ch. in Shinjuku.
• 10/4 Prayer for Kanto in Higashi Kurume.

(If you have any questions about these prayer times, contact ICCS at iccsjapan@aol.com for more details.)

WHY?
Because God has called us to seek His Face and repent.

All our respective countries need our governments to come to some form of repenting and mean it. There are things that go on in the halls of government around the world that would make you and I sick if we knew of their intent. The Bible tells about some who even dream evil so that in the morning they can put those actions into practice.

Cold and heartless laws are in place that put the poor out of proper housing. Laws that do not protect the orphans or widows. Laws that cover Big business’ budgets all the while taking huge cash windfalls on unfair loopholes in the law that are unknown by the public. It seems unfair that some get away with murder while others are heavily fined for the slightest miss-spoken word.

There is a teaching out ‘there’ that says Man is really bigger than God because we can change His mind. (Manipulate God.) In fact, God does not really know what to do in certain circumstances because we have not yet made up our mind what to do. That is a very low understanding of who God is! God is eternal. He is Lord of ALL that is! He made it all and we are part—just part—of His creation. He knows our heart and will deal with us in light of that and within His perfect plans—made from the foundation of the world. If you feel uncomfortable with that, sorry! That is the way IT is. Get over it. We are not bigger than God. His ways are far beyond our own YET He wants us—desires us to have a close relationship with Him. That is why He made us. And that relationship brings Him Glory…somehow.

Here in this passage, God sends Jonah BACK on the mission He wanted Jonah to do earlier. Because of his stubborn heart, Jonah rebelled and went the other direction. God in His Mercy—both for Jonah and for the pagan city of Nineveh, now has His man doing what is best.

Resistance is futile. Even when Jonah ran away, God was there to bring him back. It is best not to resist God’s pull on your heart.

Be like the frog that comes out of his well and see the ocean. Much more to life than what I can see.

Obedience is a wise choice. Jonah obeyed the Lord.

Because the bigger picture was not just this city of Nineveh’s need for repentance! No, it was deeper than that! It was for JONAH and Israel to repent and see that God would have ALL people come to Him. Not just the Jew-but the American, the British, the Japanese, the Singaporean, the Ugandan, the Nigerian, the Norwegian, the people from the north, south, east and the west…until ALL people have heard! And Nineveh.

What do we know of this great city? Does not really matter/we can’t compare them to us! But they are like us…cruel, mean-spirited, and selfish, you fill it in…

But "IF" we repent? What is the problem with that? Nineveh’s reputation was not a good one. Assyria was mean and nasty. Taking babies from the bodies of expecting mothers was common practice. Skinning the enemy alive of their tattoos was expected. Not to mention the server tactics of the military on the battlefield. Serious bad guys. At this time of Jonah, the Assyrian king was Adad-Nirai, the 3rd, (810-783 BC). He had promoted the worship of a single god, Nebo, thus getting the people ready for this major change from the monotheistic others around them.

Jonah 3:8b says: "Let them give up their evil ways and their violence."

This is a matter of the will on their part. What do they have to loose? Look at this man Jonah! We know what happened to him. The oral story had come to us even before he showed up outside our city with the message God had for us. We really know what the God of Israel is like—even when His own people reject Him: we know!

If we repent, well… …He may relent… "Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from His fierce anger" 9

The question might be better asked: “What is the worst that could happen?” The history of the God of the Hebrew People was known! It was feared from before the battle of Jericho. They knew what God did in Egypt. They learned what He did at Jericho and beyond.

“What if we do repent ... we know that this God they call Jehovah could change His mind and let us live. What not repent? We know we are evil! We know we kill. We know we lie. We know we have lived our lives outside God’s plan for us. It is known in our heart of hearts. Let’s do it! Let’s repent!”

And they did. And He changed His mind-from our point of view and that of Jonah’s. He gave them a second chance. Just like what He’d do for us and we are not even anything like the Assyrian people—yet we know we have done wrong. We know our heart has pushed Him out. We know we have not given Him first place—in our lives. We do not get what we deserve; the One who made us has MERCY for us to respond.

We are to seek Godly wisdom from His Word. From His revelation. SEEK Me and you will find Me! It does not come to us on autopilot. A matter of our WILL!

God is FULL of Mercy—just for us! God is FULL of Compassion—just for us! Yet, He is also a just God. A God who cannot go against His Own Word! “If you are not with Me,” Jesus said, “you are against Me.” “Those who have not put their trust in Me will perish.” “If you follow Me, you will keep my Word!” “If you love Me, you WILL keep what I say!”

Reject Me & you reject Life itself. Apart from Me, there is no life.

I am not making this up! ‘Good’ is not good enough! Putting your best foot forward does not merit eternal life. First John says that if we say we have not sinned, we lie and the Truth is not in us. Why did he say that? Wouldn’t it have been easier for God to say, “do the best you can and I’ll see you in Heaven!?”

‘Best’ is not what He is looking for. What He is looking for is found in what the people of Nineveh did. And we will look at that next week. But for this week, what is my job? What should I do with this?

Don’t push it away with those old questions of doubt and miss-information we have stored up over the years. Know that He is God and He is calling you and me to Himself. Where He is, He wants us to be and where He is, He has prepared a place for us to be with Him.

• No more tears.
• No more pain.
• No more trying.
• No more doing-the-best-you-can.

"It is finished!" That is what Jesus said on the Cross. The way to the Father is now ready for ALL to come to Him.Through Jesus. He is the Way! He is the Truth! He is the Life. No other way. All I have to do is follow.

The ART of Returning to God: Jonah 2

神様のもとへ戻る方法　ヨナ書２章
Think back to when you were a disobedient child…some just need to think back to this morning…how did it feel for you to know that your actions really hurt your parent's heart? How did you face them after this breaking of the family rules? Were you able to look at them in their face-eye to eye-and tell them that you were sorry?

反抗的だった子供のころのことを思い出してください。この中で今朝、思い出さなければならない人もいるでしょうが・・・あなたの行動で両親を本当に悲しませたことを知ったとき、どんな気持ちでしたか？家族との約束を破ったとき、どう両親に顔向けしましたか？
両親の目を見てごめんなさいと言えたでしょうか？

As a parent, is it better not to respond at all to the disobedience of the child-just let it go-or is it better to confront the child-showing them their error, dealing with the broken rules and thus dealing with the broken relationship?
親として、反抗的な子供に対して何の反応も示さないほうが良いでしょうか？それとも子供の過ちを指摘し、約束を破ったことや関係を悪くしたことに対処した方が良いでしょうか？
Isn't that what really happens when there is a law or rule that is broken? This action of disobedience produces a break in the relationship.
法律や規則が破られるとそういうことが本当に起きるのでしょうか？この反抗的な態度は人間関係を壊してしまうのです。

Both Japan and the US are experiencing some rather hard times with the rainstorms that had invaded our countries. The Philippines, Taiwan, China and the host of island countries in the Caribbean are in the same situation. Some of these countries have special jetties that keep out the sea or stop rivers from spilling into the inhabited areas.
日本とアメリカの両国は台風などの被害で大変な経験をしています。フィリピン、台湾、中国、カリブ海の国々も同じと言えます。それらの国々では堤防をつくり海や川から水が居住地域へと行かないようにしています。

In some cases, the sea surge has been so server, the jetties have collapsed or caved into the pressure and lives have been taken. We feel bad when we see the reports on the TV. This was such a waste of lives and of money. Some areas have been flooded EVERY year for the past 10-20 years. Why go back there? Why try and rebuild? In Haiti, some homes were destroyed three times in one month! How can there be a rebuild and with what?
ある場所では大波が来て堤防が押し曲げられたり崩れたりして人々が犠牲になりました。
そのようなニュースをテレビで見ると辛くなります。これはお金と人の命を無駄にしていることなのです。ある地域は過去１０－２０年間、毎年洪水に見舞われます。そんな地にどうして戻っていくのでしょうか？ハイチでは一ヶ月に３回も壊れてしまった家があります。どうやって立て直すのでしょうか？なぜ、立て直すのでしょうか？

Relationships are very much like that. The storms of disobedience or anger have taken their toll on us. Relationships have had their jetties broken in, caved into the pressures of the world, broken down because of -sin. What to do?
人間関係もそれに似ています。反抗や怒りという嵐は私たちに犠牲をもたらします。人間関係の防波堤は世界の圧力に負け、罪によって壊されてしまったのです。みなさん、これをどう処理しますか？

At times, it maybe better for the two parties to separate for a while until they can face each other with a controlled mind. But yet, God does not really want us to remain separated from Him because of our sin.
始めは彼らが感情をコントロールできるまでは問題の二人を離しておいたほうがいいでしょう。しかし、神さまは罪のゆえに私たちが、神さまから離れているというのも放っては
おかないとおもいます。

The jetties have been broken. God really wishes to be reconciled to us and to see us continue walking with Him as growing learners. (You need to remember that Jesus Himself has provided THE way for us to be restored to a right relationship with God through Himself.) So, when we sin, He is the one who seeks us out in His compassion, brings us to repent and points us back to the right way once again---once again, and again.
堤防が崩れてしまいました。神さまは私たちと和解し、互いに主にあって成長しながら歩み続けることを本当に望んでおられます。（イエス様ご自信が私たちと神さまと正しい関係を回復させる道を用意してくだ去ったことを忘れないで下さい。）だから私たちが罪を犯したとき、イエス様は同情をもって私たちを悔い改めに導き正しい方を指し示してくださるのです。何度でも、何度でも・・・・

That is where we are in the book of Jonah. Running away from what God wanted him to do…what God wanted him to say…to a people who he already wanted God to burn up and get the punishment they dissevered.
だから今、ヨナ書を学んでいるのです。ここには神さまがして欲しいこと言って欲しいことから逃げ去った話しがあります。ヨナは神さまが当然の罰としてニネベを焼き尽くすことを望んでいました。

Yet, when we sin, God seeks us out and He did the same for our sprinter from God, Jonah. And he did it in the belly of a fish-for three days!
God does not throw us away! He sees much worth in our lives. Even when we blow it! He sees one of His image bearers in need of comfort and love and forgiveness and reconciliation-of re-formation!
しかし、私たちが罪を犯したとき、神さまは私たちを探しヨナを追いかけたようにするでしょう。ヨナは三日間、魚のお腹の中にいました。
神さまは私たちを見捨てることはしません。私たちの命の価値を見てくださるのです。たとえ私たちが失敗したとしてもです。神さまは私たちを神の似姿として見てくださり、必要に応じて慰め、愛、許し、和解を与え、また造り替えてくださるのです。

Read Chapter Two

The Art of Returning To God
Cry Out for God's Mercy and God is Merciful to the Humble.
A. Return in Brokenness.
My dear older brother has a church out on Cape Cod, Mass. A great location yet has had a number of financial challenges over the years with different large employment leaving the area. Dealing with this topic of repenting, Ed wrote this week:
神さまのもとへ戻る方法
神の憐れみを叫び求める：神様はへりくだる者には憐れみ深い。
A. 砕かれた魂の戻り
私の兄がマサチューセッツで牧師をしています。立地条件はとてもいいのですが、ここ数年は経済的にも苦しい状況です。大勢の労働者たちがこの場所を離れてしまったためです。
悔い改めに関して兄はメールを送ってきました。

we have noticed that real repentance is far from easy. Certainly, you can move through a worship service designed to kindle repentance, but to really repent? Now, that's something completely different. It is hard to repent. In fact, we resist repentance. When we do repent, sometimes it seems as though we are just going through the motions. Not often do we see repentance for real and with real effect on our lives.
本当の悔い改めは簡単なことではないと気がつきました。確かに礼拝で悔い改めるように促すこともできます。しかし本当に悔い改めるでしょうか？それは別問題です。
悔い改めは大変なことです。事実、私たちは悔い改めを拒否しています。私たちが悔い改めるとその瞬間、何かが出て行った感じがします。私たちが本当に悔い改め、生活を変えるのはそんなに多くあることではありません。

I really wonder what was going on in the mind of Jonah just before he said what we read this morning. I wonder if he was trying to figure this whole mess out. I wonder if he was really sorry for his running away from God.
私たちが先ほど読んだ箇所では、ヨナの心の中に何が起きていたのでしょうか？
たぶんヨナは自分の大失敗の答えを出そうとしていたかもしれません。そして神さまにそむいたことを本当に悔いていたのではないでしょうか？

Was Jonah really MADE to repent? Or, did it take real humility for this man to cry out to God from inside the fish? If Jonah remained mad at God … I mean really mad at Him, would God have rescued him?」
ヨナは本当に悔い改めたのでしょうか？それとも魚の腹の中で本当に謙遜になり神さまに叫び求めたのでしょうか？もし、ヨナが神さまに怒り続けたのなら神さまはヨナを救ったでしょうか？

Breaking things happen. A dish, a flowerpot, a window. Once it happens, there is little to do but clean it up. Sometimes it can be put back together again.
物は壊れるものです。お皿、鉢、窓ガラス。もし割れてしまったら片付けます。時々、もと通りにくっつけることも出来ます。

With this God we are talking about, He is really ready and able to make it well again! He hears Jonah's heart-he realizes his mistake of disobeying God.
私たちが今日、語っている神は再びもとに戻すことが出来るお方です。
神に逆らい間違いを犯したことに気がついたヨナの心を神さまは見ておられたのです。

Why is it so hard to ask for forgiveness? Because we don't believe it will happen. If I break our relationship, and then ask for forgiveness, you could say, Yes, Stan, I forgive you…but you still will not forget the offense. It stays.
赦しを求めるのなぜそんなに大変なのでしょうか？赦されることを信じていないからです。
もし私が関係を壊し、赦しを求めたなら、あなたはこういうでしょう。「スタンさん、赦しますよ」と口では言いますが、やられたことをあなたは忘れないでしょう。心の中にそれが残るのです。

But with God, even though He says He will take the offense as far away as the East is from the West and that He will not remember it no more-We don't believe Him. Remember His Name? G-O-D. He is not man! He is not like one of us! Gone are the memories of past offenses once forgiveness was sought after. Jonah tried to end his life and found it ended in a belly of a fish. But God's way lead to mission and meaning. You make the choice: Belly or brokenness and healing?
しかし神さまはこう言っておられます。東が西から離れているように私たちの罪を遠く離してくださいます。そして罪を忘れてくださるのです。しかし、私たちはそれを信じません。誰が忘れてくださるのですか？神さまです。人間ではありません。私たちとは違うのです。私たちが赦しを求めれば過去の罪の記憶も神さまは消してくださいます。
ヨナは死のうとしましたが魚の腹の中で見つかりました。しかし、神の方法は意味のあることまた、宣教へと導きくことでした。皆さんも腹の中、砕かれること、癒されることから選ぶことができます。

1. Return _in brokenness_
"From the depths of the grave I called for help, and You listened to my cry."
Our God hears our cries-even when we don't feel He does. He may be saying-“Not yet My daughter… Not yet, My Son…a little more and then I will get more Glory.” Not about Me! I need to be a growing learner.
1. 砕かれて戻る
　　私が悲しみの底から助けを求めるとあなたは私の叫びを聞かれた。
　　私たちの神さまは私たちの叫びを聞いてくださいます。たとえそう感じなくてもそうしてくださっているのです。神さまの答えが「娘よ、まだダメだよ。息子よ、もう少し待ちなさい。わたしがより多く栄光を受けるときまで。」私のためではないのです。
私は学び成長になる必要があるのです。

2. Return in Thanksgiving
感謝とともにもどってくる
Now that God heard his heart cry, the fish threw Jonah up and set him on his way to do ministry.
ここで神さまはヨナの叫びを聞かれ、魚はヨナを吐き出しヨナは宣教地へと向かいました。

But was Jonah joyful? He was still going to a place he really did not want to go. Yet, Jonah said: “BUT I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You.” Go to 1 Thessalonians 5:18 When we don't feel like it, it becomes a sacrifice of joy and thanksgiving.
What was Jonah's reward of repenting? He did not know he was going to live. See verse 10.
しかし、ヨナは喜んでいたでしょうか？行き先は行きたくない場所でした。ヨナは言いました。「私は感謝の声をあげてあなたにいけにえを捧げましょう。」
第一テサロニケ５：１８
私たちがそうしたくないときにすると、喜びと感謝のいけにえとなるのです。
2. Return _in thanksgiving_
"But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You."

Just a word of care: God and humans don't really like being around people who are negative and joyless, around discontent, whiny people who complain all the time and never seem satisfied. Community works better in the light than it does in sourness. If this is a problem with you, work at it. Ask for help!
感謝しながら返ってくる
「私は感謝の声をあげてあなたにいけにえを捧げましょう。」
人も神さまも否定的で喜びがなく、不満を抱き、いつも小さなことで人に文句を言う人の近くに行きたいと思わないでしょう。コミュニティでの働きは暗いところよりも明るいところにあるほうがいいと思います。何か問題があるなら解決してください。また助けを求めてください。

B. God is Merciful to the Humble.
He hears our prayers.
This has to be one of the greatest truths of Scripture. Remember Jonah, there in the belly, covered with fish stuff and seaweed, feeling alone and lost and finally coming to his senses and seeks God's forgiveness. He deserved banishment, deep sea death, separation from God BUT, this same God, who is rich in Mercy and compassion was able to hear his confession, forgive him and restore him in the relationship.
神さまはへりくだるものに憐れみ深い
これは聖書の中の一番素晴らしい真理のうちの一つです。ヨナのことを思い出してください。魚の腹の中に海草や魚が食べたものがある中で、寂しさを感じていました。最終的には正気にもどり神様の赦しを求めました。彼は神さまから見放され海の底にいて当然でした。しかし、憐れみと同情に富んでいる神さまは、ヨナは赦しの告白を聞き、ヨナとの関係を回復しました。

1. He _hears our prayers__
"my prayer rose to You, to Your Holy Temple."
Words and Music by Tommy Walker © 1996 Doulos Publishing
Jeremiah 1:5_"Before I formed you in the belly I knew you."

I have a Maker. He formed my heart, Before even time began, My life was in His hands
He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls. and He hears me when I call
I have a Father, He calls me His own._He'll never leave me,_ No matter where I go _

神さまは私たちの祈りを聞いてくださる。
私のいのりはあなたの聖なる宮に届きます。
エレミヤ１：５

わたしはあなたを体内に形造る前から知っていた。
私には造り主がいます。彼は私の心臓をつくり、時が始まる前にから私のいのちは御手の中にありました。神さまは私の名前を知っていました。私の思い全てを知っておられました。こぼれ落ちる涙の一滴の訳も聞いてくださいます。私が呼ぶときには応えてくださいます。私には父なる神がいる。神さまは私を息子と呼んでくださいます。どこに行っても神様は私から離れません。

In the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9~14), Jesus describes two different men who went to God in prayer. The Pharisee was full of self-righteousness and pride, and he praised himself before God rather than offering true praise to the Father.
パリサイ人と収税人のたとえ（ルカ１８：９－１４）祈っている二人の違う男性を描写しました。パリサイ人はプライドと自分本位で満ちていました。そして神の前で父なる神を褒め称えずにに自分をほめました。

The tax collector humbled himself and cried out to God for mercy and forgiveness. He knew he had sinned and wanted to be truly right with God. He allowed God room to show him love and mercy. How did the Pharisee's attitude prevent God from answering any prayers he offered?
収税人はへりくだり神に憐れみと赦しを叫び求めました。彼は自分が罪を犯したことを知っていました。そして神さまにあって正しくなりたいと思っていました。彼は神さまに愛と憐れみを示してくれる余地を与えました。パリサイ人の態度が神さまからの祈りの答えをどう妨げたでしょうか？

How does pride hinder our prayers? Why does God require humility of us when we pray?
Do you think God could have still used Jonah if Jonah prayed, "O God, I'm a sinner and will always be a sinner. Please comfort me because I am a wretched person with no hope of getting better?" That is false humility. What is true humility? Be Like Him!
プライドが祈りの邪魔をするでしょうか？　何故神様は私たちが祈るとき、へりくだるようにと言われるのですか？
もしヨナがこのように祈ったのなら神様はまだヨナを用いたと思いますか？
「神さま、わたしは罪人です。これからもそうです。どうか私を慰めてください。なぜなら私はひどい人間で、良くなる望みもありません。」これは間違った謙遜です。
本当の謙遜とはイエス様のようになることです。

I am wrong and I grieve my sin before You. It sickens me to know You were offended because I said that-because I did that, and I am so, so sorry.
私が間違ってました。私の罪をあなたの前に捧げます。私が言ったこと私がしたことであなたを怒らせたことを知りました。本当にごめんなさい。

2. He _Rescues Us From our Sin__
"But You brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God."
罪から助けてくださる
主よ、私の神。あなたは私を穴から引き上げてくださいました。

1 Corinthians 10:12-14 (NIV) So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

He is a Holy God. Set apart from us by His Character of Holiness. We cannot fool Him nor should we want to. He tells us to come to Him, yet we are covered with sin's dirt. His Holiness can remove that from us and restore us to Himself. Go & do that!
神さまは聖なる神です。あなたの聖なるご性質と私たちを分けてください。私たちはあなたをバカにすることはできませんし、したくもありません。神さまは私のもとへ来なさいといってくださいました。しかし私たちは罪に覆われています。神さまのきよさがたちの罪を取り除き、再建させてくださいました。行って御心を実行するのです。

Just like His prayer He taught us... On earth as it is in Heaven…
イエス様が教えてくださったように祈り 地でも天でも ...

(Outline and some ideas come from a Web page Bible site Power Point Bible Lessons.)

To help you along

Here is the general outline you can use each week as you listen to sermons at ICCS, on your pod cast, or when you read the scriptures. A friend I met while in Bali-of all places- uses this at his church. It looked good and for a while, I hesitated to use it. But now, I feel it is time to introduce SOAP to the ICCS crowd. Soap can be used each day and I am sure you will find it helpful. I guess you know I am not talking about washing soap but:

soap: ICCS BIBLE STUDY NOTES

Scripture

Observations

Application

Prayer

Try this for a while and see if the messages last longer in your hearts. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to implant His message there to bring all of us closer to Him.
May His Grace Fill you as you seek ways to serve and love Him! Thank you.

Going Away From God's Ways

--or Jonah’s Travels!　　神さまの道から離れる：ヨナの旅
Ever run away from a bully or a wild dog, or a situation that was dangerous?

We had been just married under one month when we visited my family in Rhode Island. I wanted to show my new bride around the great city of Providence and so we went all over the place. いじめっ子や野犬または危ない状況から逃げようとした経験はありませんか？
私が結婚してから約一ヵ月後のことですが、ロードアイランドにある私の家族を妻と一緒に訪問しました。私は妻にプロビデンスの町を見せたくてしたくてあっちこちに行きました。
Some of the areas were even new to me as it had been many years since I had lived in Rhode Island. We visited Brown Un., RI School of Design, the First Baptist Church that was started by Roger Williams. ロードアイランドを離れてから何年も経っていたので、初めての場所にも行きました。
私たちはブラウン大学やロジャー・ウイリアムスが始めた第一バプテスト教会にも行きました。
We went to the Arcade, even got a NY System hot dog, and went along the piers. The area was in repair and there were piles of broken this and discarded that all over the ground, but we were in love and all was well…until, we saw a rat!私たちはアーケードにも行きニューヨークのホットドッグを食べながら、桟橋を歩きました。その桟橋は修理中で壊れている箇所が多く、壊れたものがあっちこっちに散らばっていました。しかし私たちは愛し合っていたのでそんなこと気にしませんでした。ねずみを見るまでは！！

Now, as rats go, this was the Mother-of-all-rats! I had NEVER seen such a large rat. Being a newly married man and loving my wife so much, I bolted out of there with great haste---leaving Faith behind. I was scared out of my mind! But, I did not consider the safety of my new bride. I ran away, telling Faith to follow.　そのねずみは母親ねずみで、今までに見たことのないほど大きなねずみでした。私は新婚で妻をとても愛していましたがその瞬間、妻を置き去りにして急いでその場所から逃げました。
しかし、私は妻の安全を考えなかったわけではありませんでした。私は妻に付いてくるようにと言って逃げ去ったのでした。


Running away from danger is good. Timing was off but the idea was there!

What motivates us to obey God when He tells us to do something … especially when that something is not what we want to do? What could happen if we choose NOT to do something God tells us to do?　危険から逃げ去るのはよいことです。タイミングは悪かったかもしれませんがいつもそう考えています。神様にやりたくないことをするように言われたとき、どう従いますか？神様から言われたことをやらなかったらどうなるでしょうか。

Going away from God’s ways is a short series we will begin today. We will be looking at the expert at running away from God: Jonah!

What do you know about this book or this man? Tell me, please. (here people at the Chapel gave short answers like: a big fish, Nineveh, big storm at sea...　神の道から離れることについて本日は学びます。神様から逃げたヨナについてみていきます。
この書、またはヨナについて何か知っていることを言ってください。


And as we look at this spiritual sprinter, we shall also see a God who is running right along him –dogging him at ever turn. But what we do not see is a God who is overreacting to Jonah’s disobedient behavior. このヨナが走っているのを見るとき、私たちは神さまがヨナと一緒に走っているのを見ることが出来ます。しかし、神様がヨナの反抗的な態度に過剰反応していないのが分かります。 In fact, we shall see such patience on His part. It is almost like this issue God has with the Pagan city of Nineveh is not the main concern of God but that of a changed heart in the Jewish man, Jonah. Maybe the main thing of Jonah is not the big fish, the three days in it’s belly, the city of Nineveh or the story of a repenting city. The main thing about this book could be Jonah, himself.　実際にはここで神さまの忍耐を見ることが出来ます。ニネベの町は偶像礼拝して、本物の神のことなど信じていませんでした。しかし、ユダヤ人ヨナによって彼らの心はかれられたのでした。

In our society, if we drive over the speed limit, we run the risk of getting stopped and pay the consequences, usually a pretty hefty fine. We keep the speed limit because we might fear the law and the penalty of breaking such a law. If we turn our backs on the speeding regulation and drive as fast as we want to, we are, in affect, by our actions, declaring that we are above the law—meaning the law does not apply to us. Over time, we might get stopped, if our consciences do not convict us first.　この社会の中でスピード違反をしたら、警察に止められ罰金を払う危険が伴います。
私たちは速度を守ります。なぜなら法律を犯す罰則を恐れているのです。


When it comes to finding ourselves obeying God, who see all our moments and knows our very hearts, should there be some fear there as well? If we deliberately disobey God’s laws, His commandments, does that mean we are above His rules for life. もし、私たちが法廷速度を守らず、好きなだけスピードを出したとすれば、法律を守らなかった責任を取ることになります。スピード違反をし続けるなら、警察に止められる可能性があります。私たちが神さまに従っているかどうか見るとき、神様は私たちの瞬間、瞬間をしり、心を知ってくださいます。神様に対しても恐れが必要でしょうか？もし私たちが神さまの律法に逆らうなら、それは私たちの人生が神さまの支配外にあるという意味なのでしょうか？ By bending the rules to suit our lifestyle, by cutting corners in following His ways, we are in effect saying that He is not the Lord of our life. We might be more afraid of offending a person next to us than we are of offending God, who is ALL POWERFUL and Holy.

Why?　神さまの律法を曲げて人生を送るとき、また神さまの道からそれるときにしゅは私の人生の主ではないと言えるのでしょうか？時に私たちは力強く聖なる神さまの気分を害するより、隣の人の気分を害することを恐れてはいないでしょうか？

Listen to the first chapter of Jonah and see if the shoe fits on your feet. Are you like Jonah? Going Away From God’s Ways:
READ Jonah chapter 1.　ヨナ書第一章を見て、皆さんに当てはまるかどうか考えてください。皆さんはヨナのようですか？
神さまの道から逃げていないでしょうか？
では第一章を読みましょう。


Jonah is a good Jewish man. He felt a close relationship with the God of Abraham was good. He follows the letter of the Law. He hates those who hate his God and he does not show any compassion toward his enemies—even though he is told to love the enemies of God. ヨナは良いユダヤ人でした。彼はアブラハムの神とよい関係を持っていました。また律法にも従っていました。神様を憎むものを憎んでいました。敵を愛するように神さまに言われても敵を哀れみませんでした。 He tells complete strangers of his decision not to follow his God’s perfectly clear instructions. “Go ahead, do Your best on this enemy of Yours. Wipe them off the face of the earth. I will have no part in their repenting!” In fact, you would be hard pressed to think of Jonah as anything else but a good Jew. His heart was even at rest—he was sleeping when the ship was almost sinking.彼は神さまの完全な指示に従わないことを全く関係のない人に話しました。「あなたの敵をどうぞ、裁いてください。この地から根絶やしにしてください。彼らの悔い改めと私は関係ありませんから！！」事実、追い詰められたヨナであってもヨナは良いユダヤ人でした。ヨナの心は沈みそうな船の中で眠れるほど平安でした。

A little background here. Why is Jonah not pleased about going to Nineveh? Too far to walk? Out of the way? Bad weather there? No, these people were sworn enemies of the Jewish nation. ここで時代背景をお話しします。なぜ、ヨナはニネベに生きなくなかったのでしょうか？遠すぎたからですか？遠回りだったからでしょうか？ニネベの天気が悪かったからでしょうか？違います。ニネベの人たちはユダヤ国民の敵だったからです。 The king and armies of Nineveh had been at war with the Hebrew nation for years. Jonah has a deep personal and national hatred for them. He was dripping in racial traditionalist feelings. They were not the chosen ones; Israel was. But here he was being told to go to the enemy and to PLEAD with them to repent. BURN ‘EM!　ニネベの王と軍隊は何年もの間、ヘブル人と戦争していました。ヨナは個人的にニネベの国を憎んでいました。彼らは伝統的なユダヤ人でした。ニネベの人間は選ばれた民ではない！イスラエルが選ばれた民であると思っていました。しかし神さまにニネベに行って悔い改めを告げるように言われたのでした。

I guess we need to ask the question: Where is Nineveh? Don’t turn to the map in the back of the Bible for the city of Nineveh. This Nineveh is the place God wanted Jonah but he did not want to be there. Not on your life! He would go to Tarshish to get away from that call on his life.　ではニネベとはどこでしょうか？聖書の後ろにある地図を見る必要はありません。ニネベとは神様がヨナに行ってほしい場所でした。しかしヨナは拒絶しました。彼は神の召しから逃げてタルシシュに向かったのです。

So where is Tarshish in your life? Not the place you go to that is not the place He wants you to go? Not the attitude He wants you to have? Not the lifestyle He wants you to follow?

God wanted Jonah to go to this city that had many many people. They had over 120,000 children who could not tell their right hand from their left. 皆さんのタルシシュはどこですか？そこは自分が行きたい場所であって神様が行って欲しい場所ではありません。またはそれは神様が望まない態度でもあります。またはそれは神様が望まないライフスタイルかも知れません。神さまはヨナに多くの人々が住んでいる町に行って欲しいと願いました。ニネベには１２０，０００以上の右も左も分からない子供がいました。 Completely clueless, yet God told him to go. WHY? So they could repent? Maybe but I feel it is deeper than that. I feel God was trying to work His Will out in the Hebrew Nation via this very deeply Hebrew man. God was at work to bring THE NATIONS to Himself and because of religious walls of hatred and of years of neglect, Jonah just reflected his own culture. But the culture was wrong. It did not reflect the Heart of God.神はヨナに行けと命じました。何故でしょう？そしたら彼らが悔い改めるからでしょうか？それもありますが、もっと深い意味があると思います。神さまはこのヘブル人ヨナを通してヘブルの民にご計画を持っていたのではないでしょうか？神様は何年もにわたる憎しみと拒絶という宗教的な壁をヘブルの民から取り除くように働かれたのです。ヨナは典型的なヘブル人であり伝統を重んじていました。しかし、その伝統は間違っていました。それは神さまの心を反映するものではありませんでした。

So, I ask you again, where is your Nineveh? Where and who don’t you care for or even love the way God cares for and loves. Is it a people group or an individual? A nation of people you have learned over time to hate? Let’s not push aside the deeper meaning to this text. We will look at the book, somewhat verse by verse but let’s not neglect this deeper issue that this man needed to face and so do we. And he faced it in the belly of a large fish!　そこで皆さんにもう一度ききます。みなさんのニネベはどこですか？神様が彼らを愛しているのに皆さんが関わりたくない人や場所はどこでしょうか？それは個人かもしれませんし民族かもしれません。皆さんが嫌いな国の人々かもしれません。ヨナの話しの深い意味をないがしろにしないようにしましょう。一節一節を読みながらヨナが直面した問題を軽視しないようにしましょう。
彼は大きな魚の腹の中で問題に直面したのです。

Not too comfortable. Not a nice quite place to rest his head. He had seaweed wrapped around his head and neck. He was in the depth of the ocean when he came to his senses. God had gotten his attention! And he knew it! I guess he could resist but then I guess we would not have this book to read. God did change his heart—bit by bit and even while God was doing it, Jonah resisted. He was just like us!　居心地の良い場所ではありませんよね。横になるのに最適の場所でもありません。頭にも首にも海草が巻きついていたでしょう。ヨナの平常心がもどったのは海の中でした。ヨナの心は神に向きました。そこでもヨナは拒絶することも可能でしたが、もしヨナが拒絶していたらこの書は存在しなかったと思います。神様はヨナの心を少しずつ変えようとしていたのでしたが、ヨナはそれを拒み続けていたのでした。ヨナは私たちと似ていますよね？

This morning, that is all we will say. This is a good topic for a series on the Reason for Missions and it might lead there but for now, you need to ask yourself: Is there a Nineveh in my life? A place God wants to take me and I am resisting His pull?

Or is there a Tarshish in my life? Am I going the wrong way—away from where He wants me to go? Am I resisting Him?　　今朝は以上にしたいと思います。これは宣教の理由を語るトピックにふさわしい話しです。これを通して導きがあるかもしれませんが、まず自分自身に聞いてみてください。自分の中にニネベはあるかどうか？神の召しを拒んでいないか？
またはタルシシュはあるかどうか？神様が自分に行って欲しい場所ではない場所にいっているかどうか？神さまを拒絶しているかどうか？

If you answer yes to either one, there needs to be a big fish waiting for you as you leave ICCS this morning. Don’t be surprised if you are forced to spend some time with Him this week. God really wants to change us to reflect Himself—in all ways—even in matters of our heart. Listen to Him and allow His Hand to move. It will go well for you if you do. もし、皆さんの答えがイエスの場合、ICCSを去ると大きな魚が待っている必要がありますね？
今週、神さまと時間を持つように強制されても驚かないで下さい。神さまは本当に私たちの心を変えて神様を反映するものとしたいのです。神様の御声を聞いて導いてもらってください。そうすればよい方向に向かうはずです。


He wants committed learners/people who are serious about living their lives with Him at the center!

How Much Am I Worth?

Have you ever been told you are good for nothing? Have you ever been feeling so low that you look up to see the surface of the ground? (That is very low, indeed!) Many people all over the world—even in this room, may feel they are worthless or near worthless because of something someone said one time in their lives or something that was repeated over and over again…until they believed the lie.

And that is just what it was: a lie. You are so valuable. You have worth. You are important to God and He has great plans for you that are for your well-being.

Well, how much ARE we worth? When we total the monetary value of the elements in our bodies and the value of the average person's skin, we arrive at a net worth of $4.50.

This value is, however, subject to change, due to stock market fluctuations. Since the studies leading to this conclusion were conducted by the U.S. and by Japan respectively, it might be wise to consult the New York Stock Exchange and the Nikkei Index before deciding when to sell! The U.S. Bureau of Chemistry and Soils invested many a hard- earned tax dollar in calculating the chemical and mineral composition of the human body, which breaks down as follows:

65% Oxygen; 
18% Carbon
; 10% Hydrogen; 3% Nitrogen; 
1.5% Calcium; 
1% Phosphorous
; 0.35% Potassium
; 0.25% Sulfur; 
0.15% Sodium; 
0.15% Chlorine; 
0.05% Magnesium;
0.0004% Iron. 


Additionally, it was discovered that our bodies contain trace quantities of fluorine, silicon, manganese, zinc, copper, aluminum, and arsenic. Together, all of the above amounts to less than one dollar.

HOWEVER! The following is the price tag on the human body as based on a survey published in Wired magazine. It found that vital organs are no longer the most valuable body parts. Rather, bone marrow heads the list…priced at $23 million, based on 1,000 grams @ $23,000 per gram.

DNA can fetch $9.7 million, while extracting antibodies can bring $7.3 million. A lung is worth $116,400, a kidney $91,400 and a heart $57,000.

A women’s eggs are costlier than men's sperm. The survey found that a fertile woman could sell 32 egg cells over eight years for $224,000; however, for a man to earn the same amount, he would have to make 12 sperm donations a month for 20 years.

The prices are based on cost estimates taken from hospitals and insurance companies, and are based on projected prices only in the United States. Of course, the prices also assume that all these substances can be extracted from living tissue for sale.

Although this break down is illegal, unethical and in many cases also impossible, you should not feel like a million dollars anymore. You can feel like $45 million, instead!

I am convinced that if a child is told over and over again that they are subnormal, stupid, inferior, a nothing, over time—and a short time at that, they will believe it. If everyone here would tell one person in this room, THE SAME person, that they are so important to the growth of this Chapel, over time—a longer time—it might be believed. Might! One negative word hurts and does more harm than the good of a hundred praises.

THE EVENT:
Dr. Bob Smith (co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous) was the chapel speaker at a Christian school called Minnehaha Academy, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA (date?). He was there for their annual Spiritual Emphasis Week. He spoke for 5 days on the theme, WHAT ARE YOU WORTH? In the privacy of the student’s hearts--they answered the question … not much. They truly meant it!

As teen-agers, the students had a very poor self-image. Perhaps it was (and still is) rather typical for teens and adults everywhere!

Dr. Smith kept asking his key question, WHAT ARE YOU WORTH? And the students kept answering in their hearts … not much.

During the week, he restated the question in relationship of their worth to their friends, to families, to themselves, and ultimately to the Lord. By the end of the week, they all knew something was taking place in all their hearts. All of a sudden, they truly believed that they were worth a lot to the Lord. The speaker built a strong biblical case to teach them … to persuade all of them … of their worth chiefly to Him. It was the beginning of a transformation in all of those who were there.

THE PROCESS:
Start in the Old Testament and continued through the New Testament, we can underscore truths that He stated about our person. We may have to continue to do the same throughout our life. For example (to mention but a few) . . .

_ He created me in His own image. Not garbage/not throw away..
_ He knows me and calls me by name, as He did with Abraham, Moses, Gideon and others.
_ He has given talents and gifts to me . . . just as He has determined. 1 Corinthians 12:11)
_ He has written my name on the palm of His Hand.(Isaiah 49:16)
_ He indwells me, since the day I invited Jesus into my life.
_ He tells me that I am a co-worker and joint-heir with Him.
_ He has a plan for my life.
_ He has convinced me that I MATTER TO HIM.

While reading Exodus we can be blessed to focus on this phrase that He spoke to Moses … I am pleased with you, in Exodus 33:17. What an amazing phrase for Moses to hear—really for any of us to hear!

Moses’ life was far from perfect yet God was pleased with him. What would cause God to say that? Perhaps God was pleased because Moses trusted God, as strongly stated in God’s Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11. There we can read these words … Without faith it is impossible to please God (11:6). It also says specifically that Moses … persevered because he saw Him who is invisible (11:27).

Many of us cannot imagine that God is pleased with us. But Moses heard God tell him that … He was pleased with Him. Before, we heard that God is pleased with us too, as we trust Him. So add these words to your memory bank … GOD IS PLEASED WITH ME.

Not with doing wrong or selfish things, but because He does!

THE RESULT:
Dr. Smith’s teaching quickly started the process of transformation in many lives. That process is continuing to this day. There is a book, TELLING YOURSELF THE TRUTH, by Dr. William Backus, which can be helpful. He writes that too often we allow our lives to be shaped by lies that we have believed, all orchestrated by Satan. Kids on the playground, or by teachers or even parents perhaps, spoke these hurtful words years ago. The most important things for us to believe about ourselves do not come from others. Not even from us. We must believe the Truths that God says about us. It is never too late for the transformation process to begin … and to continue.

What do we do with this ‘stuff’ we carry?

We need to realize where our strength comes from. The Sunday School answer is: Jesus. But, does that help you?

Not really my role model of a Believer’s life, but Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Roosevelt, once said: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” (You Learn by Living)

There is not doubt that hardships strengthen all of us. The best learners are the ones who have come through really great difficulty or even a tragedy and carry the depth of their experience with them. However, those who follow Christ, difficulties do much more than build our confidence. In fact, we tend to be stronger when we don’t feel confident or strong or even whole. Our eyes need to be off self. There are times it is not about growing stronger but knowing we are weak and that brings growth.

Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:, wrote about this thing he called his ‘thorn in the flesh,’ which he begged God to remove from his life. Then he wrote this: 9 But He said to me, "My Grace is sufficient for you, for My Power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” NIV

Is your life going to give into the pain of failures and setbacks? Or is your life going to press on toward the mark He has set up for you? Christ being our example, He pressed on in knowing His Father both loved Him and that He would never forsake Him. Do you have that kind of confidence in Him that assures you of your worth to Him?

Listen: “I am pleased with you…”

You may need to cut yourself some slack and allow healing to happen. You might not be as bad as you had thought you were. He finds great worth in you. He died for you.

_________________________

Articles taken from Amy Simpson, Executive Director of Resources @ Christianity Today International, June 29, 2007
Lareau Lindquist, founder, Senior Associate, Barranabas International.
Dr. William Backus, Telling Yourself The Truth, Bethany House Publishers.
Web site: How Much Does the Human Body Worth?