Hope That Brings Change...

The resurrection of Jesus can give you hope for a new life--hope of recovery from bad investments you may have made in life. Hope that brings change, healing, and filling.

As St. Augustine (345-430 AD from Hippo, North Africa) said in his work Faith, Hope, and Charity, "The omnipotent God, primal (original) power of the world, being Himself supremely good, could not permit anything evil in His works, were He not so all-powerful and good as to be able to bring good even out of evil." And nothing demonstrates that better than the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ after the tragedy and horror of Good Friday.

What happened just a few days before WAS really horrific. The Crucifixion of Jesus was, as many historians describe, was one of the most painful tortures ever invented by man. The deep personal grief aside, Jesus was nailed to a cross after a most complete beating. His Flesh was removed from His Body. He was beaten with rods and fist. The wipe used was made to create a most lasting imprint on the body. His head was gorged with thorns that tore into His forehead. He was made to carry His own beam over a long distance while crowds and soldiers spit on Him and hit Him.

It is called a tragedy only if there were not a better ending. In truth, THIS was exactly why He came to earth, some 33 years before. He was born in an unusual situation: Born to a virgin. Born as a direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies. This Jesus was and is the Only Son of God, who was given to the World as a paid ransom to release Mankind from the penalty of sin. Mankind had chosen to reject and turned away from God. In rebellion, Man chooses to put their trust in anything other than the One who made them. In rebellion, Man forced God out of their lives. Making Self the center of their world, mankind moved from bad to worst. He rebelled against the Laws of God. He broke every one of them…willfully. Defiantly. Rejected his very own creator and put instead in God’s place, something inferior and debased.

But that did not stop Creator God from loving His creation. Time after time, God, the FATHER OF ALL THE WORLD, chose to extend His love to man. He blessed him with health…with wealth…with relationship…with dreams. God extended His loving arms toward His creation time and time again.

Then it was time. In the fullness of time, He sent His only Son to us. The Scriptures said that He would be rejected. Yet, God did it any way. Why? To show His complete love for His creation. To provide for His creation a way out of the hole called sin. To provide a way of Salvation.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

That gift was received and believed by these three young people with us today who entered the Waters of Baptism. For God so loved Joseph, Collin and Angela, that He gave His one and only Son, for that if they believe in Him, they shall not perish but that they—and you may have eternal life.

Do you believe this? Do you want to believe this? It is not out of the question! It is not too simple! It is not just a nice story! It is truth and that offer of forgiveness of ALL your sins is open for us today.

To prove that, Jesus did not stay in the grave. As beat up as He was. As dead as He became on that Cross. As cold and as bloody He was, He did not stay that way!

Up from the Grave He Arose! He is Victor today. His coming to life again has given us REAL HOPE. His being alive today is cause of real JOY.

I attended my Mother’s funeral last week. Seeing her in the casket was a real eye-opener for me. She was dead…no mistake about that! Her body was cold. There was no life in it. How I wanted to see her breathing again, but that was not going to happen! Her body was there, but Anna Eve De La Cour was not there! She is alive. While in life, Mom accepted the Savior’s invitation to put her faith and trust in Him. (My mother did not know how to drive but she got into a car all the time. She really did not know how food was digested but that did not stop her from eating.) Can’t have all the answers… She put her faith in the Lord Jesus, even though she did not understand all that it meant. God’s role in that was to call her to Himself. To fill her with His Spirit and to seal her for all eternity. She is dead now, but she will be alive again, and is alive today—with King Jesus because of that decision she made in January 1968, to ask Jesus for forgiveness and to ask Him to come into her life.

Jesus said at the funeral of His close friend Lazarus in John 11:25-26 Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

The resurrection of Jesus can give you real Hope for a new life--hope of recovery from bad investments you may have made in life. Hope that brings change, healing, and filling.

Do you believe this? Do you want to believe this? For the sake of your soul, what in God’s Name is holding you back? Starts with you saying to yourself, I need to look into this more. Let that be the first honest step to know the King of Creation. Don’t worry where that will lead you. Trust me, it will be the BEST decision you have ever made. There is HOPE to be had and Jesus is the One to give it to you!

He is Risen!!!

He is Risen, indeed!

These are the lines that have been used for many years as we look at this weekend.

On one day, Jesus entered the city. People called for Him to become King. (He already was but they did not catch that!) On another day, He taught in the Temple. More believed on Him. Some were people who saw His friend come to life after being dead for four days! An other day, He and His close friends sat down for the Passover Dinner and He expressed His love for them, teaching them it is better to serve. He did this by example. He washed their feet.

He took some bread and wine and re-discovered for them the New Meaning of these common food things. His Body. His Blood. He was going to die. He was going to be killed.

They missed the point.

In fact, one of the 12 left to betray Him for a few coins.

Then, He took them to a garden party. Not your regular party, no, this one was a deep prayer meeting but He was the only one who was in prayer. His 11 fell asleep while He fought a big battle, stepping on the head of Satan and offering Himself--as His Father wished--to be the paid ransom for our sins and gave Glory to His Father in obedience said, "Not My will but Yours!"

Then the 'friend' came up to Him and with a kiss, turned on Him. The took Him away. As one account says, He even healed the cut off ear of one of those who came to arrest Him. Always the Healer, Jesus then was taken, beaten, and was torn apart (His flesh) in a very illegal arrest before a very angry mob. They took Him to the leader (because they had no real power -in truth, no power at all) to put Him to death. The Roman leader found no fault in Him and wanted to set Him free. The mob--could have been some of the very ones who called to have Him be their king when He entered the city--cried out to have Him killed.

An offer was made to set Him free and the mob said they wanted a man who had killed to be set free instead. That man's name meant 'son of the father'. The called for the death of The Real Son of the Father.

Then they took Him and finished hurting Him, but He kept saying "Father, forgive them 'cause they don't know what they are doing..." That must have made them even more angry.

Then they took Him to that hill outside the city and nailed Him to the Cross. He was hung up there in front of all. Lifted up, His beaten Body cried out to the people of the World to find salvation in Him and only one, a thief, took Him at His Word and believed. Jesus promised that that thief would be with Him. He once stole things but now was on the receiving end of the greatest treasure he would ever have. He would find Peace at the end of his life.

When all was over, Jesus then said "Into Your Hands I give My Spirit." "It is finished!" And died.

The earth shook. The Temple was hit and the curtain that kept people away from the Holy of Holies was torn from the TOP to the BOTTOM. (A sign that God DID IT!)

They took Him down from the Cross and put Him in a grave that was not His. There death took Him but could not hold Him. For three days, He was there in that cold grave...dead.

God showed up on the third day.

Lesson learned: When things look bad and the bottom falls out, look up and see that He is there. He has always been there but we made up our minds that He most have left us. We think He is like other people we know. We do forget that He is God. It is His nature to be God. He is God.

There at the grave of Jesus, God really showed up on both sides of the stone. Working together, the stone was moved and Jesus saw the light of another day. A New Day of Resurrection.

Is that what you need today? When things look dark, and they are really dark, look up and see that He is the Lord! He is Risen!

He is Risen, indeed!

See you at the Kokukoen station on Sunday at 7:30 AM for a SonRise Service. Brother Ken and myself will be sharing a message with you and give you a chance to sing of this Risen Lord. Come later to ICCS for Grow Zone, a short Sweet/Coffee time at 9:30 before the worship service which will begin at 10:30. During the service, we will have three young people enter the Waters of Baptism as an outward sign of new life. They will be sharing their story. The message will be on Hope Today.

Join us!

How Does He Enter? (Palm Sunday)

John 12:12-19 The Triumphal Entry

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the King of Israel!" 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,
15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey's colt."

16 At first His disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

17 Now the crowd that was with Him when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that He had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet Him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!"

This was one of the biggest feast of them all. Population in the city is swelling.

People are wondering if He is going to show up. Happened before and great things went on.
Word gets out on Sunday that Jesus is on His way—after the anointing of Mary.

There was an interesting contrast here and that of the entry of Jesus a few days later. Mary’s was deeply personal. And her's was a private expression of how she felt while the crowd’s response was a very public outpouring of enthusiasm.

They yell out HOSANNA! Meaning … hoshi ‘ ah-na means SAVE or HELP!
Please read (Psalm of Ascents) Ps 118:25-26. A song they sing and He fits in real well. Palm branches were symbolic of a victorious ruler (1 Macc 13:51; 2 Macc 10:7; 14:4).

This was all spoken of the coming Messianic salvation on the Mount of Olives. Alone, they may be not so important but the crowds pick up one more line that really pushes the event.
“Blessed is the King of Israel!”

So many were tired of Roman rule. Want the end of this foreign military all over their land. They want them out. A few years before—still fresh on everyone’s mind, a revolt lead by Maccabees, tried to ride Israel of Rome. Failed but almost did it! Still that feeling there. Seeing Jesus coming, what with His Power (raising a man from the dead)and authority (No one speaks like this Man!) they were excited! Ready to make Jesus king. Subdue the Gentiles!

Then Jesus blows that imagine by getting not on a horse but on a mule—a colt, in fact. This messed up what they were looking for! Not really a symbol of power. He is doing something new in their sight. Not doing things like the people THOUGHT He would. He calls up another picture: From the Prophets: “Don’t be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt!” (Zech 9:9). He is The King but not the King they thought He was going to be. He was the deliver but, as with Moses, not the one they were thinking of.

Turn to verse 16. They really did not understand. We can because we read the end of the story, but for these poor guys, they got swept up in the flow of the crowds and they too started to believe this idea. Caught up in the sounds and excitement. Lost true North bearings. Got pulled to the side, off the main path. Their compass was broken.

We never do that, right? We always see things as they really are. We never jump to conclusions. We always understand where we are going and why we are on this certain road.
Then the floor drops out. Even AFTER the CROSS and AFTER the raising from the dead, they were still thinking of the rebellion. See Acts 1:6.

The people cried out SAVE US! HELP US! And that is just what He was there for. They missed it. Some of these same men and women, maybe, joined in another crowd just a few days later to call for the killing of this Man on the colt. They changed their minds. Ever do that? Think one way for a long time and then, something happens and BOW, you change your mind. Not really a problem except when it deals with morality. When it comes to taking something that is not yours. When it comes to facing ridicule for believing the Truth. We change but He is the same!

He was to Save them. He was to Help them. That is why He came! But, for the most part, they did not really want saving nor did they really want help.

Much like us. Much like the Israelites in Egypt. After they heard that Moses was sent to deliver them, they got excited but then with it got hard, they changed their minds. Then they were freed, and off into the desert they went. They began to look back toward Egypt and desire the onions, or even the hard times of Egypt. Anything was better than dust and no water~ and having to walk by Faith!

The truth be known, Jesus fits perfectly! He, like none other, makes the Father known. He like none other was coming in His Name. This was His Mission. And most missed it. Don’t you.

John uses some interesting wording here. The people followed Jesus because “they heard He had done this sign.” They are following Jesus because He raised Lazarus from the dead. How can such a story die? The people were really freaked out over this. Some were so upset, they turned against Jesus and sided with the leaders of the Jews, who felt their hold on power was just one man away from folding up. This Jesus who now was leading many people, was, in fact, the Lord of Life! He can really give life! Maybe He can give us our country back, too? Way off course but they don’t see the big picture. We miss the point so often.

Things have to work out OUR way. I grew up, I get a good education, no one in the family get too sick, my Dad gets a great job, I get a better job. I met a wonderful lady who has a great deal of money. We marry, have 3.5 kids. Two cats in the yard. Life could not be so hard. I live a long and productive life. Have many friends and very few enemies. I die in my sleep after a wonderfully fulfilling life and my Grandkids cry at my funeral.

What is wrong with that story is that none of it happens that way. Life is not made up of good things happening to us. Life is hard. There is pain. We can’t always find a way out of our problems. And to make things really true to life, the Grandkids despise you.

So how does this story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem affect my life today?

Watch where this is going. He is Lord. He has a plan for you and me. His mind and eye is on that goal. No matter what that goal is, we don’t see it clearly. No matter what He does to show that goal to us, we are too blind to see. (I was lost and I was blind). He comes along side my life and touches me. I notice Him. I read about what He can and did do. I am impressed. I take it for granted that He is going to work THIS way in my life. He, for sure, has another plan. Not to bring glory to my life but to make my life Glory for Him. (It is all about Him). We sing about it. We go to talks that repeat that, but we do not believe it.

Surely He is here in my life to do things my way, we think. NOT!

But He is outside the city walls of our hearts. He is waiting for us to let Him in AS HE REALLY IS! As Lord! As THE One who is in control. His way is Best…not just better. He is Just and fair and not the nice old man who has no real power. He does not share Power with anyone! He is jealous of our love because He has done all to win our hearts.

He is THE One who comes into our lives … A Triumphal Entry into our life. He is the One who leads the dance. We are to follow. Not in a blind, robotic way, but with an open heart.

And the leaders of the people said: Look how the whole world has gone after Him! (v.19). They saw it but the people did not. Great if it were so…

In truth, our God is a missionary God. At first, it was just the Jews who sought Him. One by one, they came. We heard just before the triumphal entry that "many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in Him" (12:11).

Then the Pharisees are seeing that the WORLD is seeking Him. We only wish! There were people in that great city from all over the known world. They were being attracted to Jesus. The religious leaders saw this as a bad thing but not God! He sent His Son into the World to save the world. (John 3:16) All mankind. Jew, Gentile, Roman, barbarian, rich or poor, blind or lame. They all are going to serve Somebody.

Just as the Scriptures say in Zechariah and Isaiah, Jesus continues to bring together HIS Family, from every nation and tribe, all the time outside the way WE WOULD DO IT.

How does He enter our city? Through your heart. Today is Palm Sunday. Today, you can sing out HELP ME or SAVE ME!, but realize that He does hear you and He will act and He will call out your name! You should respond to His Call to you. Renew that call today.

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Come into my heart to stay!

-_-_-_-_-

Good day to you! I trust you are doing well today! Let me ask you a question: Has this site been helpful to you? Is there something else we could do to help? How can we better communicate with you? Did you know that you can leave a message or comment on this site? It will be great to get some response from you. Thank you very much for coming to ICCS' site. Please return again next week.

~Pastor Stan

The Church who had it all

1 Corinthians 12:8~10

I am sure that you have seen a paralyzed person. At one time, perhaps, that person had a very active lifestyle. That seemingly healthy person was once moving and acting out his/her life with ease and enjoyed life. Once you see this immobile, not responding, lifeless body now, you can hardly believe it is true. Bodies are supposed to be moving. Bodies are supposed to be healthy, strong and yet, here is that one who is none of those expected realities. The eyes, perhaps, tear up, the body shakes a little…but that person is frozen in time and space. Not that they don’t want to move: THEY cannot move. Jesus dealt with such people.

And we look at them and say, “What a waste!” “How sad!” “Glad it isn’t me!” “What a tragedy!”
Paul has that same response when he looked at the Church that was gathering in Corinth. What a tragedy! They had it all and now they are paralyzed…not functioning, not as the Lord would have them. Because of sin and the lack of personal good judgment, the Fellowship was sick, paralyzed and some were dead or dying.

This Church who had it all was in trouble with the man who was connected with the Mother Church in Jerusalem. Paul was writing to them and expressing a number of things he WANTED them to work on. To set right. To clean up their act and get this Walk of Faith RIGHT.

What was the problem? Why did this happen? Why is the paralyzed situation present?

Somehow, the answer lies in the fact that communication had broken down from the Head to the rest of the Body. Some damage had happened. Maybe not terminal, not necessarily cut off but damaged!

As the result of that injury, members of the Corinth Church were lying lifeless, immobile, not functioning rightly, and they were totally unaware there was a problem. Like driving a car when the red light is flashing and you cover the red light with a thick piece of paper. Or you take out the red light. Here were a people who were totally unaware of what they were created to do and to be! It was a deep waste! But correctable!

Some of the people there were working REALLY hard to make up for those who were not working well or at all.

After a while, the strain and the stress of that dysfunction began to take its toll. A really healthy body cannot continue like that: something will break down. Something will stop. When one part of the Body is overworked because the other parts are not working in unity with the whole, there is a major breakdown and it stops being a healthy body.

Such was the case in Corinth. There was a disconnect. As we have spoken in the past, we NEED to be connected to the Vine, that is, to Christ Jesus. And in that connective-ness, we find our purpose and our strength. Unbroken communication with the Head is critical. NOT ONLY ARE WE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE HEAD, WE MUST BE OBEDIENT TO THE HEAD AS WELL.

So, Paul says: I don’t want you to be ignorant, my Brothers, about Spiritual Gifts. Was this done in ridicule or condescension? Maybe!

WISDOM is the divinely enabled unique ability to know the mind of the Holy Spirit, coupled with a respectful awe of God, in such a way as to receive insight into how knowledge and spiritual truth may be practically and effectively applied to meet a need in a specific situation arising in the Body of Believers.

Another way to say this is that this Gift, given by God Himself to a person, has the ability to discern appropriate principles from God’s Word for complex situations. –The Spiritual ability to synthesize, or manufacture the capacity to design and has a love of study.

Should this be one of your gifts, you would be great as a consultant: advising on foundational issues, directions and designs for a ministry. A poor fit would be for you to the one to detail and implement and lead the work. Hard times ahead for one who has this gift and leads.

You would need a broad understanding of a Biblical Worldview. You should have an openness to be in contact with many people, being exposed to their thinking and new ideas. You should cultivate friendships with decision makers.

You can see a person who has this gift in Paul of Tarsus.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Let's look at a word study on Wisdom: Job 28:28; Proverbs 1:7; 15:33; Ps 51:6; Daniel 2:23; Isaiah 11:2 & Col 2:3; Col 1:9~12, 18~25.
1 Cor 2:13; (-) Rom 1:21~23.
Col 1:28, Jeremiah 9:23~24; Col 3:16.
What is the response of the people in Matt 23:34? They wanted them dead. They would not have them 'speak' to their lives and bring the change God wanted them to experience.

Now, for Knowledge:

KNOWLEDGE is the divinely enabled special ability to bring Truth to the Body of Christ through biblical insight by mastering God's revealed Word in Scripture, so as to organize information for teaching and practical use, by discovering, accumulating, analyzing, and clarifying information and ideas that are important to the growth and well-being of the Body of Christ.

Or, sometimes spoken of as the Gift of the Word of Knowledge, this gift has the capacity to seek out, remember and make effective use of a variety of information on a number of various subjects. Those in the Body who have this gift commonly display rational ability and have objective thinking. They would enjoy gathering of new information, doing research and sharing this information with others. Those using this Gift rightly would bring Unity to the Church!

You would tend to work better with those who have the gift of apostolic gifts when on a team. You would enjoy written reports or a verbal project. Most likely, you would enjoy sorting through a wide variety of information and ideas. AVOID being the lead person with primary responsibilities to lead or carry out the plan you have helped to devise.

You will need to be careful to know how to use this information and know the limitations of the materials plus the benefits of the acquired knowledge. Case in point is found in 1 Cor 8:1!

1 Cor 8:1 (Amplified Bible) NOW ABOUT food offered to idols: of course we know that all of us possess knowledge [concerning these matters. Yet mere] knowledge causes people to be puffed up (to bear themselves loftily and be proud), but love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his full stature].

Word study on Knowledge: Isa 5:12, 11:2 & Col 2:3; Rom 11:33; For a powerful verse—2 Peter 1:2~11; Proverbs 8:10.

Here is what happens when there is no knowledge or that it is rejected:
Hosea 4:6; 6:6.
Jeremiah 3:15; Malachi 2:7; Ephesians 4:11~13.

As the Word says later on, and we will be looking at this soon enough, even if we have wisdom and knowledge but have not LOVE, it is worthless...

But in all things … put on love.

___+++___+++___

April 5th is Palm Sunday. We will be taking a short vacation from Gifts and look at the entry of Jesus just days before His Death in Jerusalem. Please be ready to study God's Word together.
Service starts at 10:30 and we will be having the Lord's Table. This is a time for Believers to remember the Lord's Death on the Cross. It is a good time to look into your own life and examine your heart. Ask the Lord for a fresh heart and repent of your evil and turn to Him. He is waiting for you. He is waiting because He loves you very much.

April 12th is Resurrection Sunday. Come to Kokukoen Station by 7:30 for a Sunrise Service. Brother Ken and Pastor Stan will be sharing a Resurrection Devotional. There will be songs and Scripture as well. A good way to enjoy this most wonderful day.
He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!
During the morning service, we are Baptizing three young people. They will be sharing their story before they enter the Baptism Water.
Baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. You only get wet in the water. There is no special 'power' in the act...just showing the world that you want to be identified with Christ. The Worship time will start at 10:30.
Parking is close at a Pay-to-Park lot just one block from ICCS. Please do not use the parking lots of local businesses. Even if you buy food at them, you would be better off parking in a pay lot.

++++____++++____

The following series comes from a study of the Scriptures and with the guidance from a workbook put out in 1994 called "NETWORK". "The Right People... In the Right Places... For the Right Reasons." by Bruce Bugbee, Don Cousins and Bill Hybels. Zondervan Publishing House/Willow Creek Resources. Also, items were taken from Kay Arther's Spiritual Gifts Precept Bible Study. At times, the material is straight from these text. They have been written really well, so why change it? I have altered some of the material to fit our needs. I do hope this series will help us reach the places God has for each of us as we seek to please our Father with the gifts He has given to us. God blessing to you as you read and live out this expression of your Christian Walk of Faith.

All Good Gifts Are From Above

The following series comes from a study of the Scriptures and with the guidance from a workbook put out in 1994 called "NETWORK". "The Right People... In the Right Places... For the Right Reasons." by Bruce Bugbee, Don Cousins and Bill Hybels. Zondervan Publishing House/Willow Creek Resources. At times, the material is straight from the workbook. I have altered some of the material to fit our needs. I do hope this series will help us reach the places God has for each of us as we seek to please our Father with the gifts He has given to us. God blessing to you as you read and live out this expression of your Christian Walk of Faith.

Giver of ALL Gifts: Spiritual Gifts.

Spiritual Gifts: not wanting you to be ignorant…
1. Wisdom 知恵 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
2. Knowledge 知識 "
3. Faith 信仰 "
4. Healing 癒し "
5. Miracles 奇跡 "
6. Prophecy 預言 "
7. Discernment 霊を見分ける力 "
8. Tongues 異言 "
9. Interpretation 異言を解き明かす力 "
10. Apostleship 使徒 1 Corinthians 12:28
11. Teaching 教師 "
12. Helps 助ける者 "
13. Administration 治める者 "
14. Encouragement 勧めをする人 Romans 12:6-8
15. Giving 与える人 "
16. Leadership 指導する人 "
17. Mercy 慈善を行う人 "
18. Evangelism 伝道者 Ephesians 4:11
19. Shepherding　　牧師
20. Hospitality もてなし 1 Peter 4:9-10
21. Craftsmanship 技術 Exodus 31:3
22. Intercession とりなし 1 Timothy 2:1-2
23. Creative communication 独創的なコミュニケーション Psalm 150:3-5
Other gifts (not sought after):　その他
24. Celibacy　独身の賜物
25. Martyrdom　殉教

Part TWO: Review from last week… GIVER OF ALL GIFTS!
先週からの復習　すべての賜物を与えるお方
Three key characteristics:
３つの特徴
God-Given
神様から与えられたもの
There is no right or wrong Spiritual Gift
霊の賜物には甲乙をつけることは出来ない
They are given to answer the question “What…” (as in What do I do when I serve?)
　　　　仕えるために与えられたものである。

Identify two key points concerning diversity
多様性についてのキーポイント

Diversity is not division
多様性とは部門別という意味ではない
Unity is not conformity
一致は順応するということではない

Just as Passion tells us WHERE we are to serve, Spiritual Gifts help us know WHAT to do when we serve.
Spiritual Gifts are given to Believers and are distributed by His Holy Spirit.
その情熱は私たちがどこで仕えるべきなのかを教え、霊の賜物は私たちが仕えるときに何をすればいいかを知らせてくれます。
霊の賜物は信じるものに神様によって授けられ、聖霊によって分け与えられました

Given by God. The Father 'bestows' Spiritual Gifts to us for meaningful service within the Body.
父なる神は霊の賜物を充実した奉仕のために私たちに与えてくださいました。

When all the parts understand their place and function in the Body and come together to do the 'WORK' of the Church (IE: Matt 28-go, make disciples, baptize them, teach all that Jesus taught) growth and love flourish!
体のすべての器官がその場所と役割を理解したときに教会で奉仕することができるのです。（マタイ28章）
弟子を作りバプテスマを授け、イエスの教えを教えなさい）
そうすることによって信仰が成長し愛を示すことができるのです。

Look at the body we have. What if the kidney says: “I have been cleaning things for a long time. Let someone else do this dirty job. I want to shut down for about six days.” What would happen?
みなさん、自分の体を見てみてください。もし肝臓がずっと掃除してるから、汚い仕事は他の誰かに任せて6日間、休みをもらいたい。」と言ったらどうなるでしょうか。
Or if the lungs say: “I have always been huffing and puffing. Time for me to just stop and rest for a while.”
またはもし、肺が「私はいつも呼吸をしているからちょっと休ませて欲しい。」と言ったらどうなるでしょうか？

Or the heart to say: “I am so very important. Things could get pretty messed up if I would just shut down one side every so often. I want to be distinguished!”
We'd be in deep distress!
または心臓が「私はとても重要な役割を果たしているから休みを取ったら混乱が起きるので、自分の功績を称えて欲しい。」といたらどうでしょうか？
そんなことになったら大変ですよね？

The design of God is for the Body to work inter-dependently. He has designed the Church to work the same way: relationships that work together. When we do it rightly, we become the Hands of Feet of Jesus in a world that is really looking for meaning.
神さまはお互いに助け合って働くように体をデザインされました。同じように教会をもデザインされました。私たちがそのように働くときイエス様の手となり足となり、この世に証しを残すことができるのです。

To the extent that we serve and work together is the degree to which the ministry and message of Christ are communicated.
この働きの延長線上にイエス様が語っておられた宣教があるのです。
When we do it alone or in our own power or not take up our share of the load, the message and ministry of Christ is negatively hindered.
Why does that happen?
私たちが、一人でやろうとするとき、また重荷を分かち合わないときキリストの言葉と宣教の妨げになるでしょう。どうしてでしょうか？
Fear of failure. Pride. I might be seen as being weak. Low self-esteem, Competition, Indifference, Complacency or you just don't care.
失敗に対する恐れ、プライド、弱さ、低い自己評価、競争、無頓着、自己満足、無関心。

See Romans 12:5 and 1 Cor 12:27
ローマ１２：５とⅠコリント１２：２７

Diversity is not division
多様性とは部門別という意味ではない

Unity is not conformity
一致は順応するということではない

Take a look at 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
Ⅰコリント１２：４－６を見てみましょう。

DIFFERENT　（相違） SAME（同じ）
Gift　（賜物） 　　　　　　Spirit（霊）
　　
Service （奉仕） 　　　Lord　（主）

Workings （働き）　　　 God　（神）

There are different kinds of Gifts, but the same Spirit.
There are different kinds of Service, but the same Lord.
There are different kinds of workings [effects], but the same God works all of them in all people.
いろいろな種類の賜物がありますが、霊は同じです。
いろいろな種類の奉仕がありますが、同じ主です。
いろいろな種類の働きがありますが、同じ神がすべての人に働いてくださいます。

This difference we have within the Body is by the Father's design. He is the THREE in ONE God. Triune God. He lives in community; different expressions of Himself, yet He has ONE PURPOSE!
私たちのもつ違いは父なる神さまのご計画によるのです。
神さまは三位一体の神です。神さまは生きておられ違った方法で現れてくださいます。しかし、その目的は一つです。

1 Cor. 12:17-20　Ⅰコリント１２：１７－２０　２９－３０
29-30.
Unity is not achieved by being ALIKE. Much like in a marriage…
Unity is achieved by having the SAME PURPOSE: to glorify God and edify others.
一致とは皆同じなることではありません。それは結婚のようなものです。
一致とは同じ目標を成し遂げることにあります。それは神さまに栄光を帰し、他の人を建てあげることなのです。

This give and take in the Body is a beautiful thing to experience. Giving and taking with the goal of bringing glory to the One who has called us. “All for the Glory of God.”
これのギブアンドテイクは体に素晴らしい経験をもたらします。ギブアンドテイクは私たちを召してくださった方に栄光を返すことを目標としています。
すべては神さまの栄光のためなのです。

When we don't move in this way, we drain the resources of the Body. Always taking and not giving into the task at hand. Being a drain is not cool.
私たちがこのようにしないのなら、体のエネルギーを浪費させることになるのです。目の前の仕事だけに目が行くとギブがなくなりテイクだけになってしまいます。エネルギーの浪費は良くないのです。

1 Cor 12:8-12　Ⅰコリント１２：８－１２
1. Wisdom　　知恵
2. Knowledge　知識
3. Faith　　　　信仰
4. Healing　　　癒し
5. Miracles　　　奇跡
6. Prophecy　　預言
7. Discernment (Distinguishing of spirits) 霊を見分ける力
8. Tongues　　　異言
9. Interpretation　異言を解き明かす力
Gifts of healing and gifts of healing-more than one kind of healing (e.g. physical, emotional, spiritual)
癒しの賜物は肉体、感情、霊も癒します。

1 Cor 12:28　　Ⅰコリント１２：２８
1. Apostleship　　使徒
2. Teaching　　　教える者
3. Helps　　　　　助ける者
4. Administration　治める者


Romans 12:6-8
1. Encouragement (Exhortation)　励ます者
2. Giving　　　　　　　　　　　　　与える者
3. Leadership　　　　　　　　　　　指導する者
4. Mercy　　　　　　　　　　　　　憐れむもの
(Service is the same as Helps)　（助けると同じ）

Ephesians 4:11　エペソ４：１１
1. Evangelism　伝道
2. Shepherding　分かち合う
(In the Greek, pastors is literally translated as shepherds.)
（ギリシャ語では牧師は羊飼いと訳されている）

Not meant to be a FULL list or Gifts of the Spirit, but that the reader and the Church to understand and not be left in the dark.

1 Peter 4:9-10
1. Hospitality- In the Greek, there are no verse divisions. So, in this study, it is included in the list of Spiritual Gifts.
Ⅰペテロ４：９－１０
もてなし：ギリシャ語の聖書には節ごとに区切られてありません。
なのでもてなしも霊的な賜物の一つに数えます。

Exodus 31:3 出エジプト31:3
1. Craftsmanship：技術者

1 Timothy 2:1-2　Ⅰテモテ２：１－２
1. Intercession とりなし

Like the kind Moses did in Exodus 17, Paul did in Col 1:9-10 and in Phil 1:9-10 and Jesus did in John 17:6-26.
モーセが出エジプト17章でしたようなことです。パウロはコロサイ１：９－１０とピリピ１：９－１０でしました。イエス様はヨハネ１７：６－２６でしました。

Psalm 150:3-5
1. Creative communication
詩篇１５０：３－５

In this study, we will not go into gifts like
今回は以下の賜物の学びはしません。
celibacy　独身
exorcism　悪霊追い出し
martyrdom　殉教
voluntary poverty. 貧困の賜物

More next week, as we start looking at a few of the Spiritual Gifts on groups.

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If you are around the area next Sunday, please come by and worship with us. Our services start at 10:30 AM. If you come by car, please use the pay-for-parking lots near the Church. We will ask you NOT to park in business' parking lots-even if you buy food stuff from them unless there is a parking ticket. Please note that there is NO ON STREET PARKING anywhere around ICCS. You will get ticketed. One lot near ICCS is only 100 yen per hour and the max cost is 600 yen.

Not Wanting Us To Be Ignorant...

The following series comes from a study of the Scriptures and with the guidance from a workbook put out in 1994 called "NETWORK". "The Right People... In the Right Places... For the Right Reasons." by Bruce Bugbee, Don Cousins and Bill Hybels. Zondervan Publishing House/Willow Creek Resources. At times, the material is straight from the workbook. I have altered some of the material to fit our needs. I do hope this series will help us reach the places God has for each of us as we seek to please our Father with the gifts He has given to us. God blessing to you as you read and live out this expression of your Christian Walk of Faith.

Spiritual Gifts: not wanting you to be ignorant…
The following list is not a complete list of the Gifts of the Spirit. It is a framwork for us to use as we look into this topic. The verses shown are where the gifts are found. Take some time to look up each verse and learn how it fits into the whole picture of God's Gifts to us.

1. Wisdom 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
2. Knowledge
3. Faith
4. Healing
5. Miracles
6. Prophecy
7. Discernment
8. Tongues
9. Interpretation

10. Apostleship 1 Corinthians 12:28
11. Teaching
12. Helps
13. Administration

14. Encouragement Romans 12:6-8
15. Giving
16. Leadership
17. Mercy

18. Evangelism Ephesians 4:11
19. Shepherding

20. Hospitality 1 Peter 4:9-10

21. Craftsmanship Exodus 31:3

22. Intercession 1 Timothy 2:1-2

23. Creative communication Psalm 150:3-5

Other gifts (usually not sought after):
24. Celibacy

25. Martyrdom

“Listen up, there is something you need to know…” 1 Cor 12:1

Diversity in the Body of Christ is by design. If we all were the foot, we could really walk well but we could not say anything. If we were all the mouth, we could not see anything. We are all unique as individuals and we need to function in this interdependence.

Spiritual Gifts-Defined
Three key characteristics:

1. God-Given
2. There is no right or wrong Spiritual Gift
3. They are given to answer the question “What…” (as in What do I do when I serve?)

There are three elements of serving as a Body Member in the Church.

• The Uniqueness of the Believer
• The diversity of Believers within the Body
• The Interdependence of Believers in the Body

Take some time right now to describe one step to take to become more interdependent. (We need to work together and function as a unit. How can that happen?)

Identify two key points concerning diversity
1. Diversity is not division
2. Unity is not conformity

The Goal of this series is for each of us to find our passion/gift and to use it in the Body to bring Glory to God. To be fruitful and fulfilled in a meaningful place of service.
As David once said: I was glad when they said unto me: “Let’s go into the House of the Lord!”

Why are we to serve? To bring Glory to God and to edify others.
Ecclesiastes 12:13

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

How are we to serve? According to our passion, spiritual gifts and personal style. Take anyone out of the formula and there is unbalance. We are creators with passion, we are given gifts by the Holy Spirit, and He has given us a personality that fits our duty within the Chrch Body.

Passion is the God-Given DESIRE that compels us to make a difference in a particular ministry.

Know that there is no wrong Passion…just misdirected zeal.
Our passion should answer where we should serve in the Body.

Just as Passion tells us WHERE we are to serve. Spiritual Gifts help us know WHAT to do when we serve. We are not to live in a vacuum. This will not be a complete study of ALL the spiritual gift God gives us…but to give us an introduction to what they are and how God has intended them to function in the Church today.

First understand that Spiritual Gifts are not weird. As a young teen, I attended a 'gathering' that was, indeed, kind of weird, in that strange 'things' happened all around me. Some were acting in a manner that brought fear to my heart. I remember feeling unholy and I needed to get out of that place. As far as I can remember, I never returned to that location.

These Spiritual Gifts are the SPECIAL ABILITIES God gives to His Church so that we can make a unique contribution to the Body. Gifts of His Spirit are given for the common good of the Body, The Church. (1 Cor 12:7)

Spiritual Gifts are given to Believers and are distributed by His Holy Spirit.
These are given by God. I am not the one who hands them out! You can't buy them. It has been tried and God was not pleased with that! The Father ‘bestows’ Spiritual Gifts to us for meaningful service. They will give Glory to Him as He works in our lives to bring about His purpose in our lives. These are discovered as we walk with Him (Being Connected to the Vine-as we studied last time) and as we serve Him with His Joy.

Look at 1 Cor 12:11.

(Only Believers have the Holy Spirit so that only Believers are given His Gifts of the Spirit. Non-believers do not have the Holy Spirit and therefore do not have His Gifts…until they believe.)

These Spiritual Gifts are distributed to every Believer according to the Father’s DESIGN and according to His GRACE. You cannot earn one gift or another by what you do or who you are.

Know that every Believer has ONE gift and has a place of service in the Body of Christ. We are Royal Priest therefore we have a God-ordained ministry. This is GOOD stuff! (1 Peter 4:10)

Why are you are not like me? Good thng, too, because you are unique. Only you can fill the spot where you are. We can’t choose one over another.

1 Cor 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.

:18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.

We are unique by His Design. Get over it!

Much like a group playing Hand Bells. One hits D-flat, another hits a C and a F-major, another hits a B. By itself, it is only a D, a C or an F but together, it is music. When it comes together, it creates a mood, a message and it moves the inner spirit.

How can you understand the tapestry from behind? Only when it is turned over and you see the FRONT do you see that there is beauty. Much will be understood LATER. For now, we trust in Him.

_________________________

Next week we will continue to build on this week's material. We will also be welcoming a Church from Norway called Sion to our services.

We welcome comments from our readers.

Fruit: Self Control Gal 5:22-26

Self Control.

David Brooks, New York Times Service, May 9, 2006
AROUND 1970, psychologist Walter Mischel launched a classic experiment. He left a succession of 4-year-olds in a room with a bell and a marshmallow. If they rang the bell, he would come back and they could eat the marshmallow. If, however, they didn't ring the bell and waited for him to come back on his own, they could then have two marshmallows.
In videos of the experiment, you can see the children squirming, kicking, hiding their eyes -- desperately trying to exercise self-control so they can wait and get two marshmallows. Their performance varied widely. Some broke down and rang the bell within a minute. Others lasted 15 minutes.
The children who waited longer went on to get higher SAT scores. They got into better colleges and had, on average, better adult outcomes. The children who rang the bell quickest were more likely to become bullies. They received worse teacher and parental evaluations 10 years later and were more likely to have drug problems at age 32.
The Mischel experiments are worth noting because people in the policy world spend a lot of time thinking about how to improve education, how to reduce poverty, how to make the most of the nation's human capital. But when policymakers address these problems, they come up with structural remedies: reduce class sizes, create more charter schools, increase teacher pay, mandate universal day care and try vouchers.
The results of these structural reforms are almost always disappointingly modest. Yet policymakers rarely ever probe deeper into problems and ask the core questions, such as how do we get people to master the sort of self-control that leads to success? To ask that question is to leave the policymakers' comfort zone -- which is the world of inputs and outputs, appropriations and bureaucratic reform -- and to enter the murky world of psychology and human nature.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/09/EDGFGINST41.DTL&hw=david+brooks&sn=002&sc=613

As we look at the Life of Jesus, we can see a lot of self-control, both as He showed it on the Cross and how He wanted His followers to demonstrate self-control in life. As a background for this, look with me at Mark 3: 16~17 “These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter, James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder)”

Now, on to one of the biggest stories I found the New Testament that deals with self-control in Luke 9:51-55.
(NIV) Samaritan Opposition

“As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And He sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for Him; but the people there did not welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.”

I am having a great time visualizing this event! Picture if you will; Jesus is about to exit this world. Lots of ‘things’ on His mind. Concern for His followers, being separated for the first time in His eternal life from His Father…you know, things that fill a Savior’s mind. He comes to a village to get some stuff and the people of the village shun Him and His small gang. They cut them off. No help.

Can you imagine not giving aid to Jesus? How cold would you need to be or how untouched with reality would you need to be to refuse the Son of God?

They did not help Him because “He was heading for Jerusalem.” He was a Jew. They did not like Jews. A racial problem here.

The response of two of the 12 was “Let’s burn them! Let’s just do them in! This will be a great lesson learned!”

See? No self-control.

Bash the blazes out of them! Don’t move on, do not collect $100, go straight for the heart. Hurt them, ‘cause they were going to hurt us! In fact, they shut us off. We can really shut them off too!

But, see how the Savior deals with His men? He uses self-control. Why? Better results. It may not deal with the village who shut them off but it sure did effect His followers. Paul writes: Romans 12:14 (NIV)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Bless and curse not. Why not? Better results.

(The Message) Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath.

(New Century Version) Wish good for those who harm you; wish them well and do not curse them.

Next week, March 8, there is a call to pray for a period of 24 hours for the People and situation in Burma. Many 1,000’s are being hunted down by the Government military and killed every day—simply because they are of a different national group. Like Jesus, they are despised and rejected by the leaders. Men and women, children and senior people are stabbed and tortured to death, raped and beaten simply because they are different.

One web site I went to suggest that the leadership be destroyed! I suggest that the leadership be broken in their hearts and come to know the One who can forgive them. For them to repent. While in one way, I wish them dead, I find that the Way of the Cross would encourage us to pray for their souls and NOT call fire to fall down on them. Much like the village the Son’s of Thunder wanted to destroy, our self-control is called for. It is a fruit of the Spirit.

Proverbs 16:7

When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

So many times, when we are pushed, we push back. When someone forces his place in front of us, we want to push him away. When someone says something negative toward us, we return in kind. When the lady next to you is violating your rights, we want to drench them in hot water. To break from our self-control and get justice.

A real test of character is what we are like when no one is. When no one is watching.

Do you have self-control? DO you want to have self-control?

We need to look at this fruit of the Spirit as something to have and know that it would be better—far better—to exercise self-control instead. Why? Better results. It is not just a dream fruit or gift of God. He wants us to have it and to enjoy it in light of His Word and promises.

You remember the song sung by Old Blue Eyes? “I did it my way!” Frank Sinatra’s song became the theme song of so many in the world. My way is the high way. My way is to be followed. My way! Me! Take care of self! I am to be cared for! Take my needs and fulfill them FOR ME. My desires! My hopes! It is all about me, if you please!

But the Lord shows us a better way. It is not the way of weak people. It is the way of Jesus, after all.

Here is a story of a man from Burma. This is found on the Pray for Burma web site.

Eliya (Elijah) is the Chief Medic for the Free Burma Rangers. He is fast, highly skilled and very brave.

Eliya is a 37-year-old Karen Christian, and is married to a beautiful and dynamic nurse. They have four children. Eliya is a gifted medic, trainer, champion kick boxer, artist, singer, cook, hunter and all-around athlete.

He served as a medic in the Karen Army (KNLA) and is admired for his bravery under fire, mature decision making, ability to handle complex situations, and for his lifesaving ability. He is almost always smiling and his distinctive, booming laugh can be heard wherever he is present. He is calm under pressure, never gives up, prays with faith, shares all he has and is supremely talented.

After he had found his family during the 1997 offensive, he was asked, “Why did you stay and help the refugees when your own family was at risk?” He answered, “In life we do not have control over everything. We have to do the duty God sets before us. I love my family and wanted to help them. But I did not even know where they were.”

“However, I did know where the thousands of families who needed help were. They were right in front of me. I had to trust God and my friends to take care of my family until I had done all I could for the people in front of me. God would take care of the things I could not. Then as soon as I was done I went to find my family and was so happy when I found them safe. I want to follow God and I thank Him for all His gifts. You know I am not a very good man, and sometimes I do bad things, but I will keep trying and I put my trust in God.”

I can see that this man was very much like King David. He was not always a good man. Sometimes he did bad things. He also loved his people. He also tried hard to live in light of his relationship with his Maker. He was open and honest. He sought forgiveness when he did do wrong. He kept trying AND he put his trust in God, too.

Can we do better than that? Don't think so. Eliya, David and ourselves are alike. We all need to trust our Maker for all things in our lives. In life, we do not have control over everything. God WILL take care of the things we could not. We, like Eliya and King David NEED to put our trust in God in ALL things.

And when we do: God will answer. You can count on Him!

Do you need help in developing self-control? Jesus responds to our cries for help.

But, then we're responsible to respond to God (by our praise, our worship, our growing devotion, and our total obedience) when He acts in our lives. We will need some self-control to give His Spirit freedom in our lives so that He gets the Glory that is His due.

Next week: Gentleness. Brother Caleb Eby will be haring from the Word.

Now for the passage: Galatians 5:22~26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Give yourself to His Fruit of the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit. Stay connected. Don’t take it for granted. That is your role!

Send comments to this post. We'd love to hear from you..really!